Manning loses to Lake City, 24-23

Manning’s loss to Lake City Friday night, 24-23, wasn’t as close as the score implied.

The Monarchs did all their scoring in the first half and couldn’t hold off the Panthers who fought back to win the game in the fourth quarter.

“We pretty much dominated the game up until right before the half, 23-6,” Manning Head Football Coach Robbie Briggs said Friday night. “Then, we completely lost our poise. We had multiple mental mistakes. We had a calamity of errors.”

Briggs gave credit to the Panthers for hanging in there until the end.

“They battled to the end,” he said. “We just couldn’t overcome our mental mistakes.”

Briggs said he’s going to look at the film from Friday’s game and move forward.

Manning’s loss to conference rival Lake City dropped the Monarchs to 5-5 on the season and 2-3 in the region. Friday night’s win leveled the Panthers at 5-5 on the season and 2-3 in conference play.

Rushing the ball, Lake City had 36 carries for 83 yards while Manning gained 120 yards on 47 carries.

Passing the ball, Lake City was 6 for 13 with no interceptions while the Monarchs went 5 for 13 with two interceptions. Lake City dominated passing yardage 175 to Manning’s 88 yards through the air.

Total yardage was pretty even with Lake City leading the way with 258 yards to Manning’s 208 yards.

Manning led in the total number of plays with 60 to the Panthers’ 49. First downs also went Manning’s way 15 to Lake City’s 9.

Turnovers came back to haunt the Monarchs again this week.

Lake City had two fumbles and loss none while the Monarchs fumbled the ball twice and lost one. In total turnovers, Lake City didn’t turn the ball over while Manning gave the ball back three times.

Time of possession: Lake City 22:20 to Manning’s 25:40.

Manning’s leading rusher was William Dingle who carried the ball 23 times for 56 yards and one touchdown. Daniel Pendergrass carried the ball 13 times for 67 yards and one TD.

Manning’s Phillip Henry blocked a punt deep in Lake City territory. Rashadd Hilton recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

If Andrews loses its game Friday night, Manning, Lake City and Andrews fall into a three-way tie for third in AA Region VI.

Wins and losses are out the door now with playoff games beginning Nov. 4. All teams in AA Region VI will advance to the playoffs. Match ups for the first round of playoffs will be announced later.