Football Results: Oct. 9
Tippecanoe Valley 48, Manchester 18
The Squires put up a fight in the first quarter, taking a 12-7 lead, but the second quarter was all Valley.
Valley outscored Manchester 22-6 in the second quarter to erase the five-point deficit, eventually building a 17-point lead of its own. After Brock Casper hit Seth Gaerte with a 62-yard scoring strike for the Squires to shave the lead to 29-18, Valley would score the last 19 points of the contest.
Jamasyn Virgil had a huge night for Valley, rushing 14 times for 190 yards and three touchdowns. Joel Cisneros had just 38 yards rushing, but scored twice, and Hunter Eherenman ran for 112 yards and a score. Cody Eastgate added a 12-yard score late for the Vikings.
Valley strung together 424 yards of offense, all but nine coming on the ground. The Squires would have Casper throw for 236 yards and a score, but was picked off three times. Toss in another two fumbles lost and the Squires gave Valley an extra five possessions.
Manchester falls to 2-6 on the season, 2-5 in the Three Rivers Conference with its final regular season contest at Peru next week. Valley (6-2, 6-1 TRC) now turns to its newest bitter rival, Southwood, for the third season in a row the two will square off in the final week with the TRC on the line. Southwood spanked Rochester 35-0 Friday night to move to 6-0 in the TRC. With its game against Maconaquah canceled earlier this season, the Knights can win the title outright with the win, or a Vikings win would split the trophy and bragging rights.
Mishawaka 42, Wawasee 7
The Warriors had the Cavemen on the ropes in the first half, but as has been the case in the Northern Lakes Conference for the Warriors, full 48 minutes have been slippery slopes.
Wawasee forced a pair of fumbles in the first quarter, the first recovered at the Mishawaka one, to thwart early Cavemen drives. But those possessions turned into empty trips for the Warriors. The Cavemen would respond, scoring three touchdowns in the second quarter, the first a seven-yard Andrew Mason run, then a Milan Burris 16-yard scamper. Just 40 seconds later, Justin Fisher passed to Mason for nine yards for a 21-0 lead.
Mason would add another rushing score, Konnor Putz also had a rushing touchdown, and Dylan Wise returned an interception for a score.
Wawasee’s lone score came on a 25-yard pass from Parker Young to Jacob Meek.
Mishawaka did well what it always does well, rushing the ball, to the tune of 321 yards against the Warriors. Fisher led the Cavemen with 132 rushing yards, Mason added 86 yards.
Young would throw for 199 yards on 23-44 tries and led the Warriors with 73 yards rushing. Kam Salazar and Adam Beer combined for 10 catches and 123 yards.
Salazar added nine defensive tackles, seven solo.
Mishawaka (4-3, 4-1 NLC) kept its conference title hopes in line, sharing the one-loss in the column with both Northridge and Warsaw, the Raiders and Tigers both 5-1. The Cavemen visit the Raiders next Friday. Wawasee (2-6, 0-6 NLC) will host Goshen, where barring a tie or COVID outbreak, one team will pick up its first NLC win.