With a national television audience as his witness,
Newman (New Orleans) sophomore
Arch Manning had a point to prove after throwing four interceptions last season against
KIPP Booker T. Washington (New Orleans). The 2019 MaxPreps Freshman of the Year threw two more picks — both tipped balls — but passed for 241 yards and accounted for three touchdowns in a 55-22 victory over the same Lions in a Louisiana high school football game broadcast by ESPN2.
Making his television debut, the nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning completed 21 of 27 passes and rushed for 35 more, including a pair of 1-yard touchdown sneaks as the host Greenies improved to 3-0.
Newman won last year's meeting between the New Orleans schools 27-20.
In that game, Washington’s
Keith Hampton grabbed three of Manning's four interceptions. He added two more Thursday, including a 75-yard pick six. But Manning was nearly flawless otherwise and received a big performance from teammate
Sterling Scott, a Harvard commit, who rushed for touchdowns of 30 and 23 yards and added a pick six of 25 yards
Arch Manning goes long during the first half of Newman's win over Booker T. Washington on Thursday night.
Photo by Parker Waters
Newman’s
Joseph Pleasant also rushed for two touchdowns.
Manning displayed his outstanding speed and footwork, especially on the final drive of the first half when he led a 10-play, 75-yard drive that included a 23-yard scramble. He finished it off in style by finding
A.J. Johnson with a 13-yard TD, making it 28-16 with 33 seconds left in the half.
Manning’s uncles and father Cooper all graduated from Newman. Eli is the career passing yardage leader with 7,268 yards and Peyton the career passing TD leader with 92. Arch entered Thursday’s game with career marks of 2,980 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Booker T. Washington (2-1), a second-year program, came into the game having outscored opponents 86-10.
In Newman's first two outings of the season, Manning tallied 471 passing yards and six touchdowns while completing 76.9 percent of his attempts. He also ran for 70 yards and three scores on just seven carries.
Manning is ranked the No. 5 player overall in the Class of 2023 by 247Sports and No. 1 quarterback. Last season, he completed 65 percent of his passes (204 of 316) for 2,509 yards and 34 touchdowns against six interceptions, leading the Greenies to a 9-2 season.
Arch celebrates following his team's opening drive for a touchdown.
Photo by Parker Waters
Arch breaks into the open along the sideline during the first half.
Photo by Parker Waters
