North Manchester, Ind. - Manchester Falls to Westminster in Hard-Fought Home Opener, 21–14
Manchester came out firing in their home opener, jumping to a 14–6 first-quarter lead, but couldn't maintain momentum as Westminster (MO) rallied for a 21–14 victory at Spartan Stadium.
Senior quarterback Kaleb Hall led Manchester's early charge, connecting with Frank Moody for a 19-yard touchdown pass on the Spartans' second drive. Moments later, Manchester capitalized on a Westminster fumble, punching it in from the one-yard line with James Lewis to make it 14–6.
After a strong first quarter, Manchester's offense stalled. The Spartans were shut out for the remaining three quarters, finishing with just 154 total yards and going 0-for-11 on third down. Hall completed 14 of 26 passes for 123 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Lewis paced the ground game with 33 rushing yards and a score. Zalin Ingram was Hall's top target, hauling in four passes for 77 yards, including a 46-yard strike that set up a red-zone opportunity.
Defensively, Manchester held up well, forcing eight punts and tallying four sacks. Mason Daring led the way with 10 total tackles, while Culvin Gilbert and Ziare Sullivan combined for 2.5 sacks. Xander Swihart forced a fumble in the first half that set up Manchester's second touchdown.
Despite the loss, Manchester showed flashes of strong play early and were within one score until the final two minutes, when Westminster's third field goal sealed the outcome. The Spartans will look to rebound next week as they welcome the Cougars of Concordia-Chicago to Spartan Stadium. 1:00 PM start.
