Manual had to travel to play their first game of the season, but the final result was worth the trip. They blew past the Ignacio Bobcats 62-36 on Friday. That result was just more of the same for these two, as the Thunderbolts also won the last time the pair played back in August of 2024.
Manual was led to victory by Marcus Keller and Ellis NamuWeusi-Clements. Keller rushed for 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only nine carries, while NamuWeusi-Clements rushed for 59 yards and three scores. An impressive showing, but NamuWeusi-Clements really ramped things up playing D: he picked up two sacks, forced three fumbles, and made five total tackles. Khriba Jackson Jr was in the mix too, providing Manual with two TDs.
Special teams also deserves some recognition, posting 12 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Jackson Jr, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Manual's defensive line stepped up as well, laying out the QB four times. The heavy lifting was done by NamuWeusi-Clements and Tyree Toliver, who racked up all four sacks between them. Manual received some extra help from Toliver, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Manual will have some time to savor their victory since their next game is a little ways off: they'll take on Denver West at 6:00 p.m. on September 12. As for Ignacio, they will challenge Cedaredge at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
