Thomas Dale is 0-5 against Manchester since November of 2017 but things could change on Friday. The Knights will be playing at home against the Lancers at 7:00 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Manchester will challenge a team with plenty of momentum: Thomas Dale extended their winning streak to three last Friday. The Knights enjoyed a cozy 36-22 victory over Hopewell. Given the Knights' advantage in MaxPreps' Virginia football rankings (they are ranked 23rd, while the Blue Devils are ranked 106th) , the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Thomas Dale can attribute much of their success to Daniel Lewis, who picked up 110 receiving yards and one score, and Jaiden Hite, who rushed for 90 yards on only 11 carries. Lewis really caught the secondary sleeping when he pulled down a catch that went for 72 yards. Micah Flowers got in on the action too, returning a kick for a touchdown.
Thomas Dale didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Christopher Ward, Cole Leinberger, and Dexter Richardson picked up one apiece. Thomas Dale got some further help from Marcus Byrd: he made 14 total tackles (6.0 for loss).
Special teams played a big role in the game for Thomas Dale, adding 16 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Flowers, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, with a playoff win on the line, Manchester rose to the challenge on Friday. They walked away with a 38-28 win over the Eagles.
Thomas Dale better keep an eye on Landen Abernethy. He was instrumental in Manchester's win, throwing for 267 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while also punching in one TD on the ground.
Thomas Dale's victory bumped their record up to 9-1. As for Manchester, their win bumped their record up to 10-1.
Thomas Dale couldn't quite get it done against Manchester when the teams last played back in November of 2024 as they fell 18-7. Will the Knights have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
