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If the Manual-Central game is any indication of how the season will unfold,
expect a season full of exciting competition and inexplicable finishes.
While the Crimsons' performance was far from perfect, an exciting win
against a talented and defending state champion is a great way to kick off the season.
It was reminiscent of two games played by Manual and Central against a common foe. In the second round of the 4A playoffs in 1994 a 10-1 Central team that had defeated Trinity 15-0 in the regular season held a 12-6 lead on the Rocks in the waning moments before Reggie White scored twice off two blocked punts to end the Jackets' season 19-12. In 2003 Manual trailed the eventual 4A Champion Trinity by 9 points mid way through the fourth quarter. And had just failed to convert on fourth and goal. A fumbled snap in the end zone lead to a safety. Manual took the free kick and drove for the winning TD and two point conversion with 17 seconds left to stun Brohm and company 37-36. Friday with Manual trailing 28-19 and less than 3 minutes to go Manual capitalized on two Central punts. The first was a low snap that gave the Crimsons great field position to cut the lead to 28-26. Then a high snap sailed over the punters head and was recovered in the end zone for a 34-28 win. |
