By Toby Hammes/Manhattan Mercury
HAYS — Seven ticks. That’s how much time was left on the clock as Manhattan High football’s star JJ Dunnigan hauled in a 1-yard slant, leading the Indians to a thrilling 34-30 comeback win.
“The whole night we were trying to work the numbers, we saw that we had that slant on the backside wide open,” head coach Joe Schartz said. “JJ knew he needed to cross (the defender’s) face to the open space…Carter (Aslin) delivered the ball and the rest is history.”
It was an all-time Friday Night Lights contest in Hays. Manhattan (3-0) trailed by as many as 10 early, but charged back on the shoulders of its leaders.
“JJ had a fantastic game all-around,” Schartz said. “At the end there, we went with our two best players and we came up victorious.”
Dunnigan, the junior two-way star with offers to Kansas State, Kansas and Nebraska, laid the first blow to Hays — and most importantly, the final.
“Coach Schartz had a lot of trust in me,” Dunnigan said. “It comes down to just making big plays under pressure and that’s what we did. It was a perfect pass and all I had to do was catch it.”
Aslin, the senior quarterback marched his team down the field with just over a minute to play, erasing a three-point deficit on the quick hitter to Dunnigan, overcoming the seemingly insurmountable odds.
“On the final drive he was fantastic, we practice two-minute drill all the time, he’s had a lot of experience at it,” Schartz said. “…Tremendous effort from the kids to do both — move the chains, stop the clock or get out of bounds.”
Hays (1-2) was blown out in Week 1 by Derby, the reigning state runner-up, before getting its confidence back in a 42-7 victory over Wheat Ridge (Col.) in Denver last week. It proved to carry its momentum over from Week 2 by giving Manhattan fits throughout the game.
Aslin, who averaged 163 rushing yards going into the matchup, was held to just 50 yards on the ground. Being pressured to air out the offense, the senior demolished his previous career-highs in passing.
He showcased his dual-threat capabilities, tossing a career-high 316 yards with three touchdowns.
“We practiced passing a lot this week,” Aslin said. “They took away the run because that’s one of the biggest parts of my game. We had to go out in a different way and it worked.”
How it happened
The MHS defense was a force on the opening possession, creating a quick three-and-out. However, Manhattan would give the ball back just as fast, fumbling on its first offensive snap.
After another quick stop, Dunnigan laid his first blow as he connected with Aslin for a 79-yard touchdown. It was Aslin’s longest career throw and touchdown.
“I love the post route,” Dunnigan said. “The (corner) was playing off, looking a little nervous so I just beat him with speed and Carter’s just going to throw it out there to me.”
Hays responded by marching down the field, ending in a 30-yard rushing touchdown run by running back Holden Lind.
Relying on the big play, Manhattan struck on the ensuing drive with a diving catch by senior Gabe Summerlin.
However, Hays flipped the momentum and the field by grabbing an interception off Aslin, setting up Lind for another long score. This time the senior took a 28-yard pass into the endzone.
The Indians continued to rely on chunk plays as Hays’ size in the trenches refused to let Manhattan run its typical quarterback-run-oriented offense. A check down to senior Jaydin Hudley resulted in a 78-yard score.
“They attacked us the right way…I knew it was going to be this type of game,” Schartz said. “Didn’t know it was going to come all of the way down to the end, but I’m very proud of our kids.”
Hays got the last say before the half with a big touchdown pass of its own. Each team missed an extra point attempt on their final two scores, leading to a 20-13 Hays lead at halftime.
“We were a little bit down (emotionally) at half,” Schartz said. “Had to explain to the kids that it’s only one touchdown, that we signed up to do hard things. That was able to get their attention before we started the second half.”
With the ball to open the half, Manhattan gave it back on a botched snap past Aslin, allowing Hays to tag on a field goal and extend its lead to double digits.
As Manhattan’s offense stalled, the defense did its best to keep the game within striking distance. With three minutes left in the third quarter, Hays’ own bad snap gave Manhattan the opportunity it needed.
Junior Garrison Vikander sprinted to the loose ball, corralling it and winning the 25-yard foot race to the endzone.
“When Garrison got that defensive touchdown, we knew we were going to get it done,” Schartz said. “Much-needed shot in the arm, right at that moment, things changed.”
It appeared Manhattan would trail three points entering the final quarter of play but Aslin had other plans.
After a quick stop, the dual-threat finally broke free from Hays’ big bodies, housing a 40-yard touchdown run on the first play of the drive. In a matter of one offensive snap, Manhattan had flipped the game to a 27-23 lead with 12 minutes left to play.
Hays put together a long 13-play drive to open the quarter, but Manhattan personified a bend but don’t break mentality, forcing a turnover on downs with six minutes left.
Backed into its own territory, Manhattan’s offense couldn’t put the game away, giving Hays the ball back with 4:10 left in the game. Hays capitalized with 1:47 left as Lind notched a hat trick of scores, this time from 26 yards out.
Now trailing, Manhattan had to make quick work on offense to give itself a chance to win the ball game. It marched all the way down the field, placing itself on the one-yard line with seven seconds left.
Then, the play of the night, the two-way star Dunnigan grabbed his second score on the night, draining the life out of Lewis Field Stadium, and sending the Manhattan Indians home happy.
“This is a heck of a win, I told the kids, ‘This is one of the highlights of my career,’” Schartz said. “To be able to execute like that down the stretch and for them to respond when I challenged them at halftime to lay it on the line.”
Manhattan has its second straight contest on the road as it heads to Junction City next Friday.
MANHATTAN 34, HAYS 30
Hays High (1-2) — 7; 13; 3; 7— 30
Manhattan High (3-0) — 7; 6; 14; 7 — 34
SCORING SUMMARY
Manhattan — Aslin 79-yard TD pass to Dunnigan, PAT by Vikander, 8:31 1Q
Hays — Lind 30-yard TD run, PAT by Moore, 4:25 1Q
Hays — Graham 28-yard TD pass to Lind, PAT by Moore, 11:12 2Q
Manhattan — Aslin 78-yard TD pass to Hudley, PAT no good by Vikander, 5:12 2Q
Hays — Graham 27-yard TD pass to Purdy, PAT no good by Moore, 2:51 2Q
Hays — 34-yard field goal by Moore, 6:09 3Q
Manhattan — G. Vikander 37-yard scoop and score, PAT by Vikander, 3:13 3Q
Manhattan — Aslin 40-yard TD run, PAT by Vikander, 1:07 3Q
Hays — Lind 26-yard TD run, PAT by Moore, 1:47 4Q
Manhattan — Dunnigan 1-yard TD pass from Aslin, 0:02 4Q.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Passing — Manhattan: Aslin 18-26-316-3-1; Hays: Graham 13-24-168-2
Rushing — Manhattan: Aslin 9-50-1, Hudley 9-41; Hays: Lind 21-130-2, Dreiling 12-56
Receiving — Manhattan: Dunnigan 6-130-2, Hudley 5-90-1; Hays: Cano 5-86, Lind 2-32-1, Purdy 4-45-1
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