Manchester prevails over Homer Trojans in second week of play

Extra point scored just before the half

by Marsha Chartrand

In the Manchester Flying Dutchmen’s first regular season game vs. Homer on Thursday, August 31, the team showed Homer their offensive and defensive power, scoring a 54–8 victory at home.

“Blake Sloan continued to dominate,” said head coach Ben Pack, “running the ball as well as playing defense.”

In the first quarter scoring, Manchester racked up 21 points for an early lead. Starting with an interception by Alexander Woods, a 40-yard return for a touchdown started the score, with Jeff Sangster providing the PAT to leave the score 7-0. A 23-yard rush by Sloan gave the Dutch another touchdown and Sangster got his second PAT of the game to make it 14-0. Sloan’s 19-yard rush with a PAT by Lydia Bennett rounded out the first quarter to make the score 21-0.

In the second quarter, Manchester continued its dominance, scoring two more TDs with successful PATs. Gunner Carson had a two-yard rush for a touchdown, while the kick by Bennett was good for the next seven points of the game. Later, Kannon Duffing hit receiver Luke Blumenauer with a 26-yard pass, followed up with a PAT by Sangster. The score at the half was 35-0.

In the third quarter, Drake Neff caught a two-yard pass from Duffing (CNV), followed up by Bennett’s PAT to bring the third-quarter score to 42-0.

Homer finally saw some action in the beginning of the fourth quarter, with an 18-yard pass for the Trojans’ first touchdown of the game, and a three-yard rush for the conversion to bring the score to 42-8. Manchester came back with two more touchdowns, by Walter Ahrens on a 13-yard rush and Carson with an 11-yard rush, to bring 12 more points to the Dutch and the final score to 54-8.

“Our first defense held firm the entire time they were in the game,” Pack commented. “Junior Phoenix Hulswitt also had an interception. We played all the players, with all the fifth-quarter kids playing the entire fourth quarter.”

Rushing leader was Sloan, who racked up 147 yards in 13 rushes and two touchdowns; Duffing led in passing, completing seven out of nine attempts, for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Blumenauer was the lead receiver, with 41 yards and one touchdown.

PAT leaders were Sangster, with three out of five successful attempts, and Bennett, with three of three successful kicks.

Woods and Sloan led the game defensively with 3.5 tackles for 40 yards (Woods) and 6.5 tackles for 32 yards (Sloan).

The Dutchmen will face off with the Stockbridge Panthers, away, on Friday night at 7pm. Go, Dutch!

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

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.