Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

MANCHESTER — The Green Bobcats gave Manchester a couple of gifts and the Greyhounds knew just what to do with them.

Manchester turned two fumble recoveries into touchdowns and beat the Bobcats 21-13 Friday in the season opener.

“We gave them a couple of short fields and they scored. They took advantage of their opportunities and we didn’t,” said Green coach Dan McDavid. “We’re learning. We need to learn how to finish drives and finish games.”

Despite the loss and the mistakes, McDavid said he was proud of his team’s effort, especially some of the team’s young players.

“We had some young kids play well,” said McDavid. “Tyler Johnson had his first sack. Peyton Armstrong had a good game at defensive tackle. Trent Marcum had a good game at inside linebacker in his first start.

“Alex Otworth, Johnson and Armstrong had a good game on the offensive line.”

Benefitting from the good offensive line play was running back Levi Mollett who carried 10 times for 125 yards and a touchdown. Mollett also had one reception for 22 yards.

Quarterback Clay Applegate was 5 of 19 for 176 yards and three interceptions. Ryan Gaffney caught two passes for 50 yards and Marcum had two grabs for 31 yards.

Mark Allen ran five times for 30 yards and Marcum had three carries for 2 yards.

Defensively, Kanyon Burton came up with an interception for Green while Wyatt Blevins, Kyle Frazier and Marcum all recovered fumbles.

Quarterback Jordan Freeman had a 3-yard scoring run to put Manchester up 7-0. A 20-yard run by Cole Hensley put the lead at 14-0 with 5:02 left in the half.

Green scored with just under two minutes left in the half on a 73-yard pass play from Clay Applegate to Andy Chavarria.

But the Greyhounds answered as Daniel Hernandez caught a 5-yard pass from Freeman with just 18 seconds left in the half.

The Bobcats cut the deficit to 20-13 on a 13-yard run by Mollett with 11:02 to play but they could get no closer.

Green 0 7 0 6 = 13

Manchester 7 14 0 0 = 21

First Quarter

Mn — Jordan Freeman 3 run (Jordan Franklin) 3:07

Second Quarter

Mn — Cole Hensley 3 run (Jordan Franklin) 5:02

Gr — Andy Chavarria 73 pass from Clay Applegate (Levi Mollett kick) 1:57

Mn — Daniel Hernandez 5 pass from Jordan Freeman (Jordan Franklin) 0:18

Fourth Quarter

Gr — Levi Mollett 13 run (kick failed) 11:02

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Grn Man

Rushes-yards 32-186 127

Passing yards 176 72

Total yards 362 199

Cmp-Att-Int 5-19-3 6-17-1

Fumbles-lost 3-2 4-3

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Green: Levi Mollett 10-125, Mark Allen 5-30, Trent Marcum 3-2.

PASSING—Green: Clay Applegate 5-19-3 186. Manchester: Jordan Freeman 6-17-1 72.

RECEIVING—Green: Ryan Gaffney 2-50, Trent Marcum 2-31, Levi Mollett 1-22.