Dutchmen end season with heads held high

As the second half of the game begins, the Dutchmen down by seven points, they show their unity on the field. Photo courtesy of John Osadchuk.

by Marsha Chartrand

It’s been Manchester’s longest and most successful football season in several years. Old records have been broken; new records have been made. The post-season also promises awards and accolades to several Dutchman players.

But for now, it’s over. A 42–13 loss to the Napoleon Pirates is not the way anyone wanted to see this season end, but the Dutch can hold their heads high knowing they played their hardest, and hung in there to the final moments.

“The season was very successful in terms of growth for our program,“ said head varsity coach Ben Pack. “Our Middle School team finished 3-2-1, and our Junior Varsity and Varsity teams both won six games. Our Varsity team was ranked in Division 7 in the top 15 schools in the state in playoff points over the season, and we were recognized for a short period as the 50th-strongest team in the state among all 520 schools.“

Napoleon proved to be deserving of their top-10 ranking, Pack added. After a scoreless first quarter, they came out with two quick touchdowns in the second quarter, followed by Gunner Carson’s TD for the Dutch.

“Our players fought hard throughout the game but were not able to overcome their power running game and stingy defense,“ he said. “Trailing 14–0, Gunner Carson took the following kick-off 90 yards for the touchdown. Our kick return unit has been successful all year; it was just a matter of time before we broke one for a touchdown.“

The third quarter was scoreless for the Dutch, but the Pirates showed their offensive power by adding two more touchdowns to bring the score to 28–7. But Manchester still didn’t give up.

The Dutchmen’s final score came with 4:18 left in the game when Gunner Carson broke off a 15-yard run. The following point-after attempt failed, after an errant snap from Jaxon McGuigan to Alexander Woods turned into a short incomplete pass, leaving the score at 35–13, Napoleon.

Adding an extra score at the end by converting an intercepted Dutch pass brought the final score to 42–13.

So Pack concluded, “Although the season ended on Friday in the District Championship game, the efforts of players resulted in breaking six school records, as well as receiving statewide recognition for their efforts. All of the success was the result of hard work by many players, parents, and coaches, in addition to outstanding support from the Manchester community. I am proud of everyone working together, helping our kids and program to gain momentum to take the next step. Thank you!“

Watch for updates on post-season recognition for our Manchester players in the weeks to come. GO, DUTCH!

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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.