Photo by Tammie Martin/ossports
Tomball – Facing one of the nation’s top running backs, Tomball Memorial knew it needed to continue its red hot scoring pace. Mission accomplished.
Still, on a cool and breezy evening, the work ahead was easier said than done before the battle finally settled, 64-49 in the Wildcats favor on Friday night in District 16-6A at Tomball ISD Stadium.
With the victory, Tomball Memorial improves to (5-0, 2-0).
Joseph Manjack turned in tonight’s highlight reel, rushing for a game-high 256 yards on 17 carries and four touchdowns. He added 67 yards on 5-of-7 attempts, one score, and a sack.
“He’s such a special kid,” says Tomball Memorial coach Sam Parker. “I’ve had a lot of interviews lately about him. He’s probably the most selfless player I’ve ever been around in my life. He’s all about the team. He’s all about wins. Unbelievable athlete.”
Manjack’s speed left defenders in his wake. Still, he had help from a talented offensive line, including juniors 6’6 315-pound Anfernee Crease, 6’7 300-pound Josiah Rodriguez, 6’3 280-pound Tucker Roberts and seniors, 6’3 300 pound Cameron Carrola, 6’3 305-pound Cameron Cook, 6′ 310-pound Kevin Garner, and 6’4 270-pound Jacob Mounger.
“He’s amazing (Manjack), but a lot of the credit goes to the offensive line and our fullback Reed Baumann,” coach Parker said. ‘”They played out of their minds tonight. They moved the line of scrimmage against a very very good defensive front, a very very talented defensive group that played really well. We just had some opportunities, and we took advantage.”
Wildcats massive offensive line smashed, thrashed, and pancaked defenders all evening, leaving gaping holes for Manjack and running back Richard Rodriguez, who piled up 188 yards on 27 carries and two scores.
“They work super hard during the week,” Wildcats offensive line coach Scott Wiesmann explained. “I’m proud of them. They do a heck of a job. They are physical, and when they’re physical, we move people.”
Yet the momentum would shift back and forth. One such thrilling moment surfaced when Klein Cain cut the lead, 57-49, with 9:44 remaining. Junior tailback Jaydon Blue and standout receiver Matthew Golden shared a pair of big plays each, which resulted in Blue taking a handoff going right before cutting back, finding daylight en route to the end zone. Defensive back, Isaiah Hudson made good on the two-point conversion that pulled the Hurricanes within one-score, 57-49.
That served notice, too close for comfort as the Wildcats put the game on ice when Manjack guided Tomball Memorial on an 11-play 80-yard drive, which watched it convert a fourth down and two while Manjack knifed through Cain’s defense on his way to the end zone, increasing the score, 64-49 with 2:35 left in the game.
On the ensuing kickoff, Golden returned the ball to the Tomball Memorial’s 34-yard line, but the Wildcats defensive stood tall after cornerback Alex Edmondson stopped Blue for no gain at the 43. Then junior defensive lineman Andrew Davis added the clincher, sacking quarterback Carson Roper to force a turnover on downs.
“We had great execution,” coach Parker admitted. “Our kids played great on both sides of the ball. We had a few turnovers early that created some opportunities to create some separation. A lot of credit to Klein Cain, they did a really good job, and they just kept answering. We knew that we were going to have to do the same.”
With 32 seconds left, Manjack took the snap and kneeled to drain the clock.
The fans watched its fair share of difficulties.
In a game expected to see fireworks materialized on the second play from scrimmage when Manjack sprinted 76 yards as the Wildcats jumped out to an 8-0 lead after a successful two-point conversion.
Tomball Memorial scored on its next two drives to build a 22-12 lead.
Klein Cain (2-2, 1-1) used its possession wisely, marching 69 yards as Roper faked the handoff to five-star running back Jaydon Blue and rambled up the middle to the end zone. The extra-point kick failed, the Wildcats led 8-6.
Both defenses share its best efforts to stay with a pair of fiery offenses.
Later, Klein Cain’s defense forced two consecutive punts, which fueled its offense in seizing a 26-22 lead.
Tomball Memorial’s first punt resulted in short-yardage, giving the Hurricanes a first down on the Wildcats’ 40.
Blue picked up 15 yards on a pair of carries to give Klein Cain a new set of downs on the 25. Then Roper, who completed 13-of-22 attempts for 176 yards with two interceptions and a sack, scampered 21 yards to four. Following two wildcats plays headlined by standout receiver Matthew Golden, Klein Cain drew within two, 22-20, with 1:26 left in the first quarter.
Blue rushed 232 yards on 27 carries and scored three touchdowns. Matthew Golden had seven receptions for 154 yards.
Junior all-district defensive tackle Lukia Rawls, who attacked the Wildcats offense all evening, stopped Manjack in his tracks for no gain at the 32. On the next two plays, defensive back Isaiah Elmore and defensive end La’Andre Johnson dropped Manjack after a three-yard gain and later chased him out of bounds at 37, which led to a punt.
That allowed the Hurricanes to execute an 81-yard scoring frame. Blue, who left the game later on the drive for a few plays, picked up 23 yards on the first play before suffering from cramps. Carson had a hand in a pair of big plays when he scampered 11 yards to the Tomball Memorial’s 43. Then he connected with Golden at the eight-yard line. Carson concluded it with a three-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion failed, but Klein Cain led for the first time, 26-22, with 8:58 to go in the second quarter.
But time gave way to the Wildcats as it outscored Klein Cain, 21-7 within a span of 4:48 seconds to enter halftime leading, 43-33.
Rawls would recover a loose ball at the Tomball Memorial 29 after Manjack miss-handled the center’s snap. The Hurricanes capitalized on the turnover when Blue scored from a yard out.
In the third quarter, Hurricanes fans stood to its feet following running back Aaron Jordan’s rumble to the Tomball Memorial’s 39-yard line. Then Blue carried the ball twice to the six-yard line. Hudson concluded it with a one-yard scoring run, which trimmed the score to 43-41 following Hudson’s two-point conversion run with 9:51 left in the third quarter.
As time passed, opportunities evaded the Hurricanes. It stopped Tomball Memorial on two crucial drives, but it’s offense left the field empty.
That shifted the momentum back to the Wildcats as Manjack accounted for a 17-yard carry to the Klein Cain’s 36. On the next play, Manjack found an opening and dashed 36 yards to put the Wildcats up, 50-41.
Right after, another turnover sparked its next score as it built a 16 point lead, 57-41.