Big games often lead to not only a more energized football game, but also a more energized crowd. Manhattan High against Topeka High fit that bill.

“The student section was insane,” senior quarterback Ian Trapp said.  “Just the hype leading up, we were very motivated this week.”

In a continuing story for Manhattan High football, a slow first half did not lead to a slow second half, as MHS (4-0) beat Topeka High (2-2) 46-20 Friday night to end a two-year losing streak.

The Indians were able score touchdowns on each of their first two drives, jumping out to the early 12-0 lead, after both extra point attempts were unsuccessful. Those would be Manhattan’s only points of the first half, as penalties would kill any offensive chances.

“We scored on I think our first two drives,” head coach Joe Schartz said, “and then all of a sudden we started having penalties and backing us out of drives and forcing us to punt. Just silly mistakes on our part, it wasn’t anything that Topeka High was doing necessarily.”

MHS would finish the game with 6 penalties for 35 yards.

The defense had issues of its own in the first half, namely its inability to stop the Trojans for short gains.

“It was just all the big plays,” senior defensive back John Haug said. “We have to eliminate the big plays and I think we’ll be fine. [It’s] just pursuing to the ball, and making sure there’s no big plays or big runs, and I think we’ll do good.”

Even with all of the big plays, the Indian defense was able to make the stops when necessary. At the beginning of the second quarter, Topeka High ran four straight plays inside the redzone, or the twenty yards outside of their endzone. While giving up yards, Manhattan stopped them from gaining 10 yards, forcing the Trojans to attempt a field goal. The scoring chance was averted when the snap went over the holder’s head, back to the 27-yard-line, where Topeka High recovered it for a turnover on downs.

T-High finally broke through the Indian defense near the end of the first half, with freshman Miekyah Thomas scoring on a one-yard touchdown run. Much like Manhattan in the first half, the Trojans extra point attempt failed.

Thomas was forced into the quarterback role, as the starting quarterback, senior Corey Thomas, was out with an injury. Even so, Miekyah was productive, running for 118 yards and two touchdowns. He tacked on 159 yards through the air, as well, scoring one touchdown passing.  

The halftime score was 12-6, with Manhattan in the lead. Momentum was not on their side though, as Topeka High had been dominant near the end of the half.

All that changed on the opening kickoff of the second half. For the second home game in a row, Haug took the second half kickoff deep, returning it 80 yards to the 10-yard-line.

“The blockers did like an amazing job,” Haug said, “just blocking, making a hole for me to run through.”

Trapp would run it in for a touchdown on the next play, firing up the Indians. The 19-6 lead would not stand for long though, as Topeka High scored a touchdown on its next drive, bringing the game back to a six-point game, at 19-13.

Manhattan got off to a great start on its next drive, running 26 yards in four plays. The fifth play was the big one though, as senior running back Iverson Robb took the ball 37 yards down the field, to the one-yard-line, before fumbling the ball away.

“I just got overconfident,” Robb said. “I thought I had a touchdown. I was running loose with the ball, [and the defender] ran up and just popped it out. I should’ve just tucked it tight as soon as I felt the pressure and just gone down with the ball, but you know.”

Manhattan’s defense prevented the Trojans from capitalizing on the mistake, forcing them to punt the ball before Topeka’s offense made it to midfield.

The teams traded touchdowns to end the quarter, with Trapp getting a 14-yard run, and Miekyah passing the ball for a 75-yard touchdown.

Topeka High would not score again, as the Trojans would lose two kickoffs in the fourth quarter. The Indians were able to capitalize on both of the turnovers, scoring touchdowns on the next drives. Trapp scored on two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with Robb scoring the other one.

Running was the story of the game for Manhattan. Trapp finished the game with 180 yards on 24 attempts and four touchdowns. Robb added 151 yards of his own on 13 attempts, scoring two touchdowns. Robb said the offensive line was a big part of that.

“[The] offensive line had a great day,” Robb said. “They just for real, they the best offensive line in the state, and they was doing they job, and it helped us a lot.”

Trapp agreed the offensive line was a big reason of their success running the ball.

“My O-line just never quits,” Trapp said. “They never give up. They’re always trying to pop somebody in the mouth, whether or not the play is going towards them, and they’re just extremely … unselfish. Anybody could do it really, if they got backed up behind those guys.”

Manhattan goes back on the road this week, heading to Topeka to face off against Seaman (4-0) in what is sure to be a good matchup.

“Our goal is to go 1-0 each week,” Schartz said. “[The] only thing we can do next week is beat Seaman, and that’s our total focus.”