Flying Dutchmen survive Cardinals, thanks to fourth quarter fireworks
Editor’s Note: This week’s Flying Dutchmen Varsity Football Coverage sponsor is the Manchester Men’s Club.
Junior Manchester wide receiver Hayden Taylor evades Michigan Center defenders on a punt return.
by Tyler Scott
It wasn’t clear who would win until the last few minutes, but Manchester spoiled Michigan Center’s homecoming night by making some key plays late in the game to secure a hard-fought win, 21-14.
Michigan Center jumped out to an early lead before both defenses settled in. The Flying Dutchmen (4-2, 4-1) scored a touchdown, and then forced a turnover in the final three minutes of the game to win it. At halftime it was tied 14-14. Manchester’s final touchdown was the only score in the second half.
“It feels really good. Our kids battled tonight,” said Dutchmen head coach Mike Blumenauer. “We kept stepping on our own feet there, with the turnovers, but they just kept coming through.”
Senior Manchester quarterback Tyler Horky finished 8/17 passing for 137 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions. He added 17 yards on the ground and rushing touchdown off nine carries.
Blumenauer said the Cardinal defense caused the turnovers and miscues that helped keep the game tied for so long.
“We’re just playing better competition. Michigan Center is a really good football team,” Blumenauer said. “That’s the best 1-5 team I’ve seen in a hell of a long time.”
Despite only one win thus far, Michigan Center (1-5, 1-4) has a proven ability to compete with teams at the top of the Cascades Conference standings.
Down seven in the fourth quarter, The Cardinals had the ball in the red zone. It was a chance to tie the score with less than 90 seconds left in the game. On third down at the five yard line, Michigan Center junior quarterback Joe Olkowski fumbled, and senior Dutchmen linebacker Jacob Kurgin scooped it up to just about guarantee his team’s victory.
Michigan Center’s coaching staff declined the Manchester Mirror’s request for a post-game interview.
On offense, the Flying Dutchmen again illustrated their proclivity to score quickly. Senior running back Collin McCaffrey scored Manchester’s first touchdown on a one-play drive that consisted of a 56-yard McCaffrey rushing touchdown late in the first quarter.
McCaffrey finished with one touchdown and 156 rushing yards on 19 carries. He was frequently able to dance around defenders and run through would-be tacklers to gain extra yards.
“I’m glad he’s on my team, I’ll say that,“ said Blumenauer. “Great kid. He’s got a great motor. And I’m very confident handing him the football. No question about it. He and Nick Phillips both did a great job in the backfield tonight.”
Fellow senior Manchester running back Nick Phillips fought for tough yardage near the red zone and late in the game, finishing with 31 yards on nine carries.
Blumenauer had to dig deep into the playbook to find the score to take the lead – again it was a one-play scoring drive. It was similar to an earlier play where junior Dutchmen wide receiver Hayden Taylor motioned toward the line of scrimmage, and ran a deep route that crossed the field across the secondary defenders. Horky found Taylor wide open and it would have been a touchdown, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty.
It wasn’t the exact same play, but a similar one that Blumenauer dialed up to take the lead with less than three minutes to go. Horky zipped a pass over Cardinal defenders to find Taylor open, who found paydirt for what was ultimately the winning touchdown.
“We’ve had a couple of things we’ve been saving a little bit on the offensive side,” Blumenauer said. “I’ve been keeping that (play) in my pocket for awhile.”
Taylor led the receiving corps with three receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Manchester now has a chance to win two homecoming games in a row. After breaking Michigan Center’s heart on the road, the Flying Dutchmen host Hanover-Horton for their own homecoming celebration next Friday. The Flying Dutchmen are currently third in Cascades Conference standings.
Tyler Scott covers football for the Manchester Mirror. He also hosts Weekend Afternoons on Michigan Radio (NPR)
Flying Dutchmen Varsity Football Coverage is only possible because of generous sponsors and supporters. This week’s coverage is thanks to sponsor the Manchester Men’s Club and co-sponsor SRSLY Manchester. If you would like to sponsor varsity sports coverage in the Mirror click here for more information.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login