‘It happened so fast’: Turnovers sink Faith Lutheran in title game
RENO — For the second year in a row, Faith Lutheran clashed with Bishop Manogue for the Class 5A Division II state football championship.
Last season, the Miners were up multiple scores by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, but the teams were deadlocked entering the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon.
It took all of 21 seconds for the tightly contested battle to turn one-sided.
Bishop Manogue scored 21 points in those 21 seconds to topple the previously undefeated Crusaders 35-14 at McQueen High School and claim a second straight title. The Miners beat Faith Lutheran 40-21 last season at Allegiant Stadium.
“I thought we knew more about them this year than we did last year,” Faith Lutheran coach Mike Sanford said. “I really thought we played well until the dam broke in the fourth quarter.”
With 5:50 to go, quarterback Brandon Mann scampered in from 7 yards out with his second rushing touchdown of the game to put Bishop Manogue (10-3) in front 21-14.
On the Crusaders’ first play of the next series, quarterback Alex Rogers fumbled on a sack, and Manogue returned it for a touchdown and a 28-14 lead.
Two plays after that, a deflected screen pass went skyward and into the hands of Miners defensive lineman Jackson Ramsey, who returned it for another touchdown.
That put Bishop Manogue in front 35-14 with 5:29 to play in the fourth quarter.
“I think there were just some plays that went bad,” Sanford said. “We had a fumble that went for touchdown. The ball gets tipped on a screen, and they return it for a touchdown. It happened so fast.
”I am very proud of our players. I am very proud of our team. I am very proud that we did what we did up until this game, and I am proud of how we played today.”
The first three quarters of the chilly and blustery game were a defensive showcase.
The Crusaders (11-1) grabbed two turnovers via strip-sacks in the first and third quarters and scored on a blocked punt.
Trailing 14-7 with less than a minute to go in the third quarter, Faith Lutheran senior Maddox Valoaga stuffed a Bishop Manogue punt and watched it bounce into the hands of teammate Matthew Mason, who ran it into the end zone.
The Crusaders’ only other score was a 24-yard reception from Aipa Kuloloia courtesy of a well-thrown ball from Rogers with a minute to play in the first half.
“I have to give credit to Bishop Manogue,” Sanford said. “They are a good team and obviously the best team that we played all year. I don’t think they are 21 points better than us, but that’s life.”
Bishop Manogue coach Ernie Howren had high praise for Faith Lutheran’s defensive front seven after the Crusaders recorded five sacks.
“We prepared for the front seven, but, boy, the physicality that they brought, it took some time to get used to and to understand how we were going to adjust to them,” Howren said. “… Great football team over there. Great coaching staff.”
Class 2A
— Pershing County 26, Incline 6: At McQueen, the Mustangs (12-0) cruised past the Highlanders (10-1) in an all-Northern final.
