Indians bested by Seaman

Cole Schmitt, Online Editor-and-Chief

The Manhattan football team was defeated by the Seaman Vikings Friday night 21-35, their first loss against them in the last three years. The Indians went down early in the game and from there were never able to catch up. 

“It definitely does affect your energy when you go down early,” senior Cade Wilson said. “So we did feel some of those effects but I thought for the most part [we] kept good energy.”

After Seaman scored 14 unanswered points to start the games, the Indians were at the brink of letting it get away before the half. But a rushing touchdown by senior Dayne Aschenbrenner, and a 65-yard punt return from junior Sequoya Robinson kept the Indians in the game. 

“We did it in Junction City and it worked really well,” junior Grant Snowden said. “I was just happy I could help provide momentum to the team and get our offense back on the field.”

After a touchdown run in the fourth quarter by Aschenbrenner, junior kicker Grant Snowden squibbed the ball on the kickoff, it bounced off a Seaman player, and Manhattan recovered. The Indians had life and energy with 11 minutes to go, but it was too little too late. The Tribe failed to convert on downs and the game was over by then.

“We have to have energy in practice,” Wilson said. “You have to have consistent energy in practice to keep people going, it will lead to better energy throughout the game.”

The Indians will be on the road again Friday against Washburn, who the Indians blew out last year. The key to the game, senior Dayne Aschenbrenner says, is a game within the actual game.

“We need to win the turnover battle,” said Aschenbrenner.

The Indians lost the turnover battle in all of their three losses this year. Last Friday, they lost it 3-0 which is a huge momentum changer. They’ll be looking to change that around against Washburn in a big Centennial League match-up.