MANCHESTER — The offenses were pretty equal. The defenses were pretty equal. The kicking game was, uh-oh.
Two big kick returns by Manchester proved to be the difference as the Greyhounds outlasted the Green Bobcats 28-21 in a steady rain Friday night.
Green (1-2) actually outgunned the Greyhounds and the two teams passing yardage was about the same. But Ronnie Elam returned a kickoff for a score and ran back a punt to get up an easy score for Manchester.
The Greyhounds went 55 yards in 6 plays to begin the game. Brendan Barnes got a 30-yard run on the first play to the Green 25 and 5 plays later quarterback Leland Horner went the final 2 yards and it was 6-0.
The game was then delayed due to lightning and the teams exchanged fumbles after deep drives.
Green recovered a fumble at their own 7-yard line and the Bobcats drove the distance with quarterback Landon Kimber scoring on a 2-yard run on fourth down. Quincy Merrill’s conversion kick put Green up 7-6.
But the lead was short-lived as Elam returned the kickoff 81 yards as he just missed stepping out of bounds to give the Greyhounds a 12-7 lead with 6:24 left in the half.
Manchester extended its lead thanks to a conversion on a fourth down play deep in its own territory and then scored when Horner just got off a pass to Elam who got behind the secondary for a 42-yard scoring play.
Gilliam ran for the conversion and the lead was 20-7 with 2:19 left in the half.
Green fumbled the ball away to start the second half but the defense forced a punt and took over at the Manchester 40.
Blake Smith bolted 25 yards into the red zone and Smith completed the drive with a 4-yard scoring run. Merrill’s conversion kick cut the spread to 20-14 with 6:13 on the clock.
Greyhounds used their ground game to get to the Green 3-yard line only to be held on downs. Green moved the ball away from the goal line but was forced to punt.
Elam took the punt and returned it 64 yards to the one-yard line. Gilliam scored on the next play and Dylon Blythe ran for the conversion and it was 28-14 with 11:35 left in the game.
After a series of punts, Green got the ball at its own 37 and used a key run by Riley Cunningham to reach the 9-yard line and then he finished off the drive by going the final 9 yards. Merrill’s kick got Green within 28-21 2ith 6:09 to play.
The Bobcats got a chance to tie the game by recovering a fumble at the Manchester 33.
Kimbler hit Mason Neal for a 13-yard completion on a fourth-and-6, but a fourth-and-9 pass at the 16-yard line went incomplete.
Green had 356 total yards with 280 on the ground and Kimbler throwing for another 76 yards.
Manchester had 167 yards on the ground and 78 passing for 245 yards.
Green fumbled the ball away twice and threw an interception. Manchester lost the ball twice on fumbles.
Green will host Racine Southern on Friday.
Green 0 7 7 7 = 21
Manchester 6 14 0 8 = 28
First Quarter
M — Leland Horner 2 run (run failed).
Second Quarter
Gr — Landon Kimbler 2 run (QuincyMerrill kick).
M — Ronnie Elam 81 kickoff return (pass failed).
M — Ronnie Elam 42 pass from Leland Horner (Mason Gilliam run).
Third Quarter
Gr — Blake Smith 4 run (Quincy Merrill kick).
Fourth Quarter
M — Mason Gilliam 1 run (Dylon Blythe run).
Gr — Riley Cunningham 9 run (Quincy Merrill kick).
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