Toby Hammes sports@themercury.com

Last season, Manhattan High football escaped Hays on a walk-off touchdown pass. This time, the top-ranked Indians leaned on their defense to close it out.

A fourth-down stop in the final two minutes sealed a 10-8 victory Friday night at Bishop Stadium, giving Manhattan (3-0) its second straight nail-biting win over Class 5A No. 2 Hays (2-1). Homecoming king JJ Dunnigan provided the spark with an 87-yard punt return touchdown, while senior kicker Prescott Balderson added a fourth-quarter field goal for the scoring

Hays outgained Manhattan 229-225 behind senior running back Holden Lind’s 138 yards on 23 carries, but the difference came in the defense blocking a field goal before halftime and turning back two red-zone trips in the second half.

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