Varsity celebrates its first win of the season

A jubilant Dutch team celebrates its first win of the season. Jacob Bunn, #20, made the final touchdown of the 35-7 victory on Friday night over East Jackson. Photo courtesy Mark Ball Photography.

The Manchester Flying Dutchmen are flying high on the crest of a tsunami-level rout of the East Jackson Trojans Friday night.

“We came out sluggish in the first half, but turned things around in the second,” said head coach Ben Pack. “I was pleased to see our players play up to their potential. We play at our best when we play fast.”

The Dutch started off the first quarter with Aiden Kelly making an interception on EJ’s first play, scoring a touchdown followed up by Max Edwards’ PAT kick for a 7-0 lead.

That momentum continued even after the Trojans responded with a touchdown drive of their own, later in the first quarter, to tie the score at 7.

The second quarter passed scoreless after back-and-forth defensive scuffles by both Manchester and East Jackson. At halftime, the score remained 7-7.

The second half of the game was all Dutch, with three touchdowns scored in the third quarter.

“The Dutchman ground game got on track during the second half, as all tailbacks rushed through the Trojan defense due to outstanding line blocking by Garrett Corwin, Cody Branner, Landon LaVigne, and Brandon Blumenauer,” Pack added.

Brothers Gunner and Wyatt Carson, along with Garret Pope, contributed to the first scoring drive, culminating with a five-yard run by Wyatt for the six points. Another successful PAT by Edwards brought the score to 14-7.

Kannon Duffing, still leading Manchester in passing in the fourth game of the season (8-14 for 92 yards), completed a 23-yard pass to receiver Jaxon McGuigan for the next Dutch TD, followed up by Edwards’ extra point to take a 14-point lead over the Trojans with 8:16 remaining on the clock in the third quarter. And as the clock ran down, with 2:26 left, Brady McGuigan ran for 29 yards to make the Dutchmen’s third touchdown of the quarter, also topped off with an extra point by Edwards: 28-7, Manchester.

The Dutch defense held off East Jackson throughout the fourth quarter of the game, while the Trojans tried to do the same with Manchester. The final play of the game, however, with 1:12 left on the clock, saw Jared Bunn scoring a touchdown on a three-yard run across the Trojan goal line. Edwards made it five-for-five for the night, ending the scoring at 35-7 in favor of the Dutchmen.

Bunn led the Dutch in rushing for the evening, accumulating 101 yards in five plays. Jaxon McGuigan was again the leading receiver, grabbing six passes for 99 yards. Jeff Loomis led the team in defense with five solo tackles and five assists, followed closely by Brady McGuigan with four tackles and four assists.

The varsity will travel to Quincy for a 7 pm game this Friday, Sept. 24.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.