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Schools

Hawks Offense Falters in Loss to Lacey

Defense surrenders late touchdown.

Manchester Township running back Joe Johnson has been the staple of the team all season.

Despite another impressive performance from Johnson, Friday night, the Hawks (2-2) were unable to move the ball efficiently, falling 9-7 to Lacey (2-2).

Lions' fullback Jake Timony burst through the middle for a 28-yard touchdown run with 9:40 remaining in the fourth quarter to give Lacey the 9-7 lead they would not relinquish.

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The Hawks scored their lone touchdown on the opening drive, on a 47-yard spurt from Johnson on third down.

Manchester Township faced a fourth-and-inches on their own 33-yard line on the drive, but got the first down when quarterback Tim Rogers sneaked past the sticks.

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That was all the scoring Manchester could muster, as the Lacey defense proved to be too strong throughout the game.

"I think the most frustrating part of this is our offense," Manchester head coach Gerard O'Donnell said. "We moved the ball early on in the game, but then it kind of just stopped."

The Hawks yielded a field goal to the Lions midway through the second quarter. After a 33-yard run by Lacey running back Kyle Spatz put the Lions inside the Hawks' 10-yard line, the defense stepped up and forced Lacey to kick the 22-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, Johnson put the Hawks in position to score once again on a 54-yard run deep into Lacey territory. The drive stalled, however, and Manchester turned the ball over on downs, with Rogers' fourth-down pass sailing out of the end zone.

"We didn't make enough plays offensively," O'Donnell said.

After Timony's go-ahead touchdown, the Hawks had the ball two more times, going three-and-out, and later, four-and-out, to close out the game.

Rogers was sacked on third and fourth down by the Lions with less than two minutes remaining, as the Hawks were unable to get any kind of offensive rhythm late in the game.

Johnson had 20 carries for 140 yards and a touchdown, and Rogers completed five of 15 passes for 35 yards.

Antoine Brown had an interception in the end zone for Manchester that prevented Lacey from converting a turnover into points when Lacey got the ball deep in Manchester territory after the ball grazed a Hawks' player on Lacey's punt.

"You're always concerned when your offense can't move the ball," O'Donnell said, "We'll figure it out. That's what film is for."

A moment of silence was held before the start of the game in honor of Manchester sophomore Francesca Marie Preveti, who died Thursday afternoon of a bronchial asthma attack during gym class. A poem written by Francesca was read, as well.

The Hawks will now travel to Central Regional to take on the Eagles on Friday, Oct. 7.

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