Blog LIVE Blog of Class 6 State Finals: Manchester 49, Freedom 7 - FINAL

[CRF4Dan]

When Freedom and Manchester take the field in about an hour they will do so with their first state title on in the balance.

Freedom's lone loss of the season was to Lake Taylor, 42-28. Of course Lake Taylor will be playing for a state title today as well.

Manchester on the other hand has not lost since falling to Colonial Forge in last years playoff. The Lancers avenged that loss and then more less manhandled Ocean Lakes in the state semifinals.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Today will be just Freedom's 10th playoff game in their short history. They are 5-4 overall making their first state final appearance.

Manchester on the other hand is 9-6. Although they have been around longer than Freedom, they only made the playoffs once from when they opened to 2012. They have made the playoffs every year since the realignment of 2013.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Manchester is led by quarterback Brendon Clark who has thrown for 2,122 yards and 33 touchdowns! He has just 1 interception if you can believe that.

His counterpart is Freeman quarterback Quest Powell. Powell has thrown for more yards, 2,301 yards and 30 touchdowns! He has 13 interceptions on the year.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Isaiah Todd of Manchester has rushed for 1,018 yards and has 13 touchdowns.

Tyquan Brown of Freeman has rushed for 2,539 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Quite the difference but keep in mind the Lancers have 4 other players who have rushed for over 300 yards, 2 of them Romell Garcia and Brendon Clark himself have rushed for over 600 yards and have 28 touchdowns themselves!

Brown suffered a shoulder injury against Westfield and JT Edwards stepped up in his place.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Nazir Armstrong has 35 receptions for 366 yards and 7 touchdowns for the Eagles.

On the other side of the field KJ McNeil has 438 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns. 5 different Lancers have 4 or more touchdowns receiving this season.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Defense of Freedom is led by lineman Josh Fuga who has 53 tackles, 16 sacks and 3 forced fumbled entering last weeks state semifinals. DB Jason Hawkins has 77 tackles, 14 PBU's, 3 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions!

Manchester is led by Jaden Davis on defense with 68 tackles. 18 more than Alston Robinson. Robinson has 3 sacks while Hakeem Beamon who transferred to Manchester from Bird in the offseason leads the team with 5.5 tackles!

Keitrel Clark and Kwaeme Dehaney have 5 picks on the season for the Lancers.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Teams have warmed up and left the field. The next time we see them it will be go time.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Manchester is a senior laden team who will be playing in Class 5 next season. This might very well be the last Class 6 Final the Lancers play in for some time to come.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Freedom just entered the field, Lancers getting ready for their intro.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Lancers will receive to start the game.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Not the start the Lancers hoped for. Fumble the return and Freedom has the ball in business at the 24 of Manchester!

 

[CRF4Dan]

2-yard gain on the first offensive play of the game for the Eagles.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Christian Williams with a tackle on Julian Edwards. Loss of 1 yard.

 

[CRF4Dan]

4th & 9 and they choose to go for it... Overthrown in the end zone! Lancers dodge a bullet.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Isaiah Todd is the first Lancer to make a play on offense tonight. A 9-yard run stopped by Cortez JAckson

 

[CRF4Dan]

QB Keeper for Brendon Clark gets the Lancers a first down.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Clarks first pass of the day is overthrown

 

[CRF4Dan]

Todd with his second run of the day. Picks up a yard.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Clark is 0-2 in passing on the Lancers first series. 4th & 9, Lancers will punt.

 

[CRF4Dan]

After the punt the Eagles will start from their own 30.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Tyquan Brown not much going as he runs into Davis at the line of scrimmage

 

[CRF4Dan]

1st down Eagles with a quarterback keeper of 12 yards and on the next play Brown grabs 4 yards on the ground.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Both teams playing fast snap plays

 

[CRF4Dan]

Demetrius Tyler with a big defensive play.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Another fumbled Lancer return! What are the odds? Freedom in business with the ball at the 32!

 

[CRF4Dan]

Quest Powell with the keeper brought down by Anthony Gary & KJ McNeil...

 

[CRF4Dan]

Julien Edwards get the first for the Eagles. 1st & 10 at the 21

 

[CRF4Dan]

Quest Powell is a speedy little quarterback. Picks up about six yards

 

[CRF4Dan]

Powell tries to run up the middle but is met by a pack of Lancers!

 

[CRF4Dan]

15-yard touchdown pass to the end zone to Jason Hawkins! Just like that Freedom has the first touchdown of the Class 6 Finals... Freedom leads 7-0 with 5:28 to go in the first quarter.

 

[CRF4Dan]

KJ McNeil returns the kick out to the 31. Lancers looking to answer the Freedom touchdown with one of their own.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Clark sacked by Jeremiah Edwards! loses about 5 yards!

 

[CRF4Dan]

Pass to Brandon Majette. Lancers looking to get something going on offense.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Penalty against Manchester, holding is the call.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Pass to KJ Henderson and now the Lancers are facing 3rd & 10

 

[CRF4Dan]

Clark hits Colin Harding for the first time today. Big game into Eagle territory

 

[CRF4Dan]

Clark looking to find a man is overwhelmed by 3 different Eagles! Lancers offense is struggling

 

[CRF4Dan]

Clark hits KJ Henderson with a deep pass but a flag is on the field bringing it back for illegal forward pass. Lancers will punt facing 4th & a ton backed up to their own 39!

 

[CRF4Dan]

The Eagles are pinned back at their own 19 as the Lancers defensive team swarm to the return man.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Tyuqan Brown picks up about 6 yards before being hit by Jaden Davis. Quest Powell is then hit for a loss by KJ McNeil! 3rd & 8 coming for the Eagles!