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Manheim Township Defeats Hempfield in Rivalry Game

Tagged under: District 3, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| September 23, 2023

Last week, the Hempfield Black Knights improved to 2-2 after defeating JP McCaskey 41 to 20. Tonight they hosted their rivals, Manheim Township. Township entered tonight’s game 4-0 after an impressive 63 to 28 victory last week over Spring-Ford. The Blue Streaks had been dominating their opponents all season, outscoring them 192 to 40. Tonight was no different as they went home with a 48 to 7 victory.

Hempfield received the opening kickoff but after three quick plays, they were forced to punt. Manheim Township started their first drive of the night from their own 39 yard line. Township running back Declan Clancy ripped off back to back nice runs to set up the Blue Streaks on the Hempfield 31. Then quarterback Hayden Johnson found his favorite target, Landon Kennel, for a 31 yard touchdown to put Township up by seven. 

Hempfield went three and out again. After the punt, Township was set up on the Hempfield 48. The Blue Streaks quickly put together a four-play drive capped off by Landon Kennel’s second touchdown of the night. 

The Black Knights started their third drive with a solid 11 yard run from quarterback Jackson Landis. However, after three more plays, they were forced to punt for a third consecutive drive.

Manheim Township drove right back down the field, scoring another touchdown. This time it was Lex Haberbosch on a 53 yard screen pass giving Township a 21 point lead with 3:20 remaining in the first quarter.

Now Hempfield was desperate to get something going. On the first play of their next drive, the Black Knights pulled out a little trickery. Landis threw a quick screen pass to wide receiver Micah Gates, who then found Brayden Charles wide open down the sideline for a 65 yard touchdown. Hempfield now seemed to have some life, but the next drive would kill that little life the Black Knights had.

After the kickoff, the Blue Streaks started at their own 10 yard line due to a penalty. They pushed the ball up the field, but after a six-yard loss, they had to face a 3rd and 11 from the 50. Johnson found Kennel for 12 yards and moved the chains. Three plays later, they were facing third down again, but this time they needed 22 yards. Township decided to play it safe and run the football, but they still ended up getting 23 yards and the first down. Johnson would then go back to Kennel for a 26 yard touchdown. Kennel’s third touchdown of the night put the Blue Streaks back up by 21.

Hempfield and Township traded punts on the next two drives. 

With just a few minutes left in the second quarter, Hempfield found themselves pinned back deep in their own territory facing a third down. Landis tried to force a pass to his receiver, but he was intercepted by Township’s Stewars Jaquez Cabral. This set Manheim Township up on the Hempfield 25. 

On the first play after the pick, Johnson would find Kennel once again for the touchdown, giving Township a 35-7 lead with 1:56 left in the second quarter. Kennel’s fourth touchdown of the night was his 15th this season. Last week, Kennel tied the school record with five receiving touchdowns in a single game.

Coach Evans said after the game, “He’s special. Him and Hayden’s relationship is second to none. You see those guys when they were six years old throwing ball on the field after football games on Friday nights. They have just grown up together.”

Hayden Johnson completed the game with 278 yards and 5 touchdowns. Kennel had nine catches totaling 156 yards and four touchdowns. 

Township started the second half right where they left off. This time the Blue Streaks found the end zone on a Declan Clancy 28-yard rush. Township failed the extra point attempt, leaving the score at 41-7.

Hempfield’s next drive ended in four plays, and Township got the ball back on the Hempfield 28. The Blue Streaks scored their final touchdown of the night on this drive. Sophomore running back Allan Feliciano found the end zone on an 11 yard rush. 

The clock ran for the rest of the game. After multiple drives ended in punts, the Manheim Township Blue Streaks went home with the Kurjiaka Trophy which is given to the winner of this rivalry game. 

After the game, Coach Evans said, “We need to work on our focus and attention to detail. We know we have a good football team, but we could be a great football team if we ironed out some of those penalties as well as doing the little things right.” “We gotta keep going to work, we gotta stay humble, we gotta stay hungry.”

Manheim Township improves to 5-0 and Hempfield falls to 2-3.

Thanks for reading

Follow me on twitter @jpletch33

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