Very poor planning. Luckily, if it happens to be a rematch then Manchester won’t host!
But even before that, they had well over a minute remaining and spent half of it just looking at the sideline waiting for a decision, before calling a timeout. Just single handedly stopping all momentum.
You hit the nail on the head. It's like Manchester's coach graduated from HS or lost a bet or something, ha. The game couldn't have started anymore perfectly for Manchester, and they tried their best to squander it all away.
I'm reading so much about the possibility of the HC's squander and hardly no respect for HSHS and their effort to put up 26 unanswered points from 16 down! How MHS's coaches and players squandered their lead is subjective, Loren Johnson & Co. did ANOTHER masterful job in adjustments on offense and defense and the players performed virtually error free (unlike the 1st half)!
MHS didn't beat HSHS in the first half, HSHS beat themselves. MHS had the lead but with a QB that doesn't throw well versus a DLine that plugs everything(beside #23). It was going to even out eventually once HSHS got the offense moving past the 50. HSHS kept there composure and did what they had to do to win, MHS had like 60ish yards in the 2nd half
How can you say that? Not only did MHS beat HSHS in the 1st half, they beat them up physically IMOP. I have never seen a team match and/or play as physical as a HSHS football team the way MHS did in the 1st half, that's just me. HSHS had 60/70ish total yards of offense in the 1st half. MHS played a great 1st half and HSHS played a great 2nd half once they got their footing. It is what it is. It's one thing to be subjective but completely another thing to be a fan boy or biased. Give credit where credit is due. That was a great High school football game and both teams and coaching staffs deserve credit for gifting us all with that experience. The team that was suppose to win that night won.
I saw self-inflicted turnovers in the first half not a defense shutting them down, yea they came out with a lot of momentum at home but OS came out swinging too(any team trying to knock off the champ usually does come out that way). I saw a HSHS defense that was on the field 70% of the first half and still only down 2 possessions. Did MHS really win the first half or did HSHS stop themselves, honestly?
I'd say they caused the first QB fumble but the other 2 look like snap exchanges, I'll have to watch the film again on that 3rd one. But can you really say that MHS having the ball in HSHS territory for damn near the entire first half but only up two possessions is a win?
One of the fumbles....yes! The other 2....absolutely not! They were handoff transitions with NO DEFENDER close!
I will say, and I said it in the stands too, the fumble on the sack was close, I wasn't sure if the knee was already down. I haven't checked the video though, but it was still a great defensive play.
He wasn’t stripped! He ran into Ware’s elbow going past him. A defender did not touch the runner.
If “if” was a fifth we’d all be drunk. Just saying! It’s a reason the game is played on the field and not in people’s minds or public forums. I can’t wait to see the rematch, hopefully it’s as entertaining as the 1st.
From a neutral perspective, hell yeah that's a win! But apparently MHS thought it was too much of a win, because they were happy enough to sit on the ball on that final first half drive.
I still wonder about that too! They had a legit chance at 3 points before half
They had a timeout,and HSHS had not made the defensive adjustment yet. They were running at will on both sides between the tackle & guards. 3 points would have been helpful. You have to bury the champion! You give him a light,he’s gonna getya!
I would've thrown at the end zone at least once before the half. You cant play not to lose against superior teams, you have to keep punching them in the mouth. MHS was surprised to be up and didn't want to blow it and it showed.
And MHS played right into it. I'm not sure if they made any adjustments at all. Their intermediate passing routes were working, #23 was an animal, and they just kept diving and diving and diving.
You don’t mess around with HSHS’s secondary! That’s just asking for trouble! They were running it well,with a timeout left. Just throwing it up with 2 6’1 safeties could end bad!
#23 looked like a man out there, he gave HSHS all they wanted and some but you cant sustain that type of play for 4 qts. That's when coaching and adjustments put kids in position to be successful.
With the momentum they had, it would've been equal to a punt if picked. worse case 100yd pick six but you already playing with house money you gotta go for the dagger.
Or a blocked/missed FG for 6. I would’ve been more aggressive at that point but I do understand the logic given HSHS had already block a PAT. Definitely a toss up. You can’t beat a good team in one play. Series by series, quarter by quarter that’s how you win.
Thanks, but they could've rested him on defense anyway. The way the game was going, he was much more needed on offense.
I didn’t see any adjustments with the front. They were in and out of a 4 and 5 down all game. I even seen a 3 down to in the start of 3rd quarter. Honestly thought the kids just started to make plays. No real adjustment!
Thanks for posting this interview, buddy. If anybody wonders why HSHS football is so successful, simply pay attention to what Coach J has to say. His whole coaching philosophy is based on the "big picture", not just the moment.
Johnson pulled #2,the 5th DB,and and went to a 53 Defense which forced the Manchester guards to block at the line. In the first half,they were able to get to the LBs with no resistance. Once they were forced to block lineman,HSHS was able to make plays from the LBs. They even moved Malcolm Green up to play OLB to shut down whatever side he chose. Any time HSHS was in the 4 down,Manchester capitalized on it early. HSHS stayed in the 5 until they took the lead,forcing Manchester to throw into 5 DBs. The change was made on the first drive of the second half.
