HSHS at Manchester

Jul 20, 2004
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For those that couldn't make it and want to watch this classic clash - or even those that you attended and want to see it again - here's a link from RVA Sports Production.

Replay of Highland Springs 26, Manchester 16:



VirginiaPreps.com's Danny Lewis will have a recap up later as well.
 

CRF4Dan

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Dec 17, 2012
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Final 26-16 HS. Congrats to HS, coaching won again. Keys to Manchester's demise were having a chance before halftime to go for a dagger, but opting to kill the clock instead, resting #23 RB most of the 3rd qtr (he was a beast and wasn't stopped), and holding and delay of game penalties. Against a team like HS you can't be conservative and hand them momentum!

I couldn't agree with you more on the missed opportunity before the half. That was a topic I heard discussed a lot after the game and in the moment. 16 seconds on the clock and you have a timeout in your pocket, 4th & 2. You go for it and hopefully get it, call the time out and make a stab at the end zone or if nothing else you kick a field goal and you're up 19-0. Either way, missed opportunity.
 

CRF4Dan

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Dec 17, 2012
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I’m glad Highland Springs won just because of the genius (NOT!!!) who constructed the Manchester parking lot that I just waited an hour and 35 minutes to get out of....

Highland Springs D Line is the best high school D Line I’ve seen in my 25 years on this earth. Jones is a difference maker at QB on offense. He’s worth all of the hype of a JV player earning a Notre Dame offer. Malcolm Greene will be playing on Sunday’s in a few years.

Manchester is a hell of a football team but simply wasn’t ready for the moment. The game was lost when they failed to put the Springers away before halftime. If the Springers smell blood, then it’s over... Guess what, they smelled blood for the last 24 minutes of that game.

Springers wanted all the smoke tonight!

Not sure if you were aware of this but police kept the big lot from empyting out first. They first let the middle school lot out and by the time they started emptying the big lot you had gridlock as cars were in line in the parking lot. Not well coordinated by Chesterfields finest.
 
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CountyBoyGeneral

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Not sure if you were aware of this but police kept the big lot from empyting out first. They first let the middle school lot out and by the time they started emptying the big lot you had gridlock as cars were in line in the parking lot. Not well coordinated by Chesterfields finest.
Very poor planning. Luckily, if it happens to be a rematch then Manchester won’t host!
 

mbonape1

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Aug 23, 2015
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I couldn't agree with you more on the missed opportunity before the half. That was a topic I heard discussed a lot after the game and in the moment. 16 seconds on the clock and you have a timeout in your pocket, 4th & 2. You go for it and hopefully get it, call the time out and make a stab at the end zone or if nothing else you kick a field goal and you're up 19-0. Either way, missed opportunity.

What on earth was Manchester doing? I understand the field goal, that doesn’t bother me. It was 5 straight drives where Manchester only ran a dive play!! Even with seeing HSHS obviously said no more.... yet you still do it repeatedly. Also, how do you not keep handing the ball to #23 if that is going to be your strategy.

springs found their groove offensively spreading the ball around and I think they will have success again with this same tactic should they meet again.

Manchester had their chance but instead of playing to win they played not to lose. 2.5 quarters running different variations of the exact same play... JMO. Next time Springs will know what to do earlier to see success and I don’t think the next one will be as close. Once I saw them run the exact same play 3 times in a row with the lead I knew what they were doing and I knew Springs would storm back for the W. Opportunity lost. Congratulations to HSHS for setting the area’s consecutive win record. Here Here HSHS!!
 

HoosFan05

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Aug 28, 2005
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I couldn't agree with you more on the missed opportunity before the half. That was a topic I heard discussed a lot after the game and in the moment. 16 seconds on the clock and you have a timeout in your pocket, 4th & 2. You go for it and hopefully get it, call the time out and make a stab at the end zone or if nothing else you kick a field goal and you're up 19-0. Either way, missed opportunity.
But even before that, they had well over a minute remaining and spent half of it just looking at the sideline waiting for a decision, before calling a timeout. Just single handedly stopping all momentum.
 

HoosFan05

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Aug 28, 2005
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What on earth was Manchester doing? I understand the field goal, that doesn’t bother me. It was 5 straight drives where Manchester only ran a dive play!! Even with seeing HSHS obviously said no more.... yet you still do it repeatedly. Also, how do you not keep handing the ball to #23 if that is going to be your strategy.

springs found their groove offensively spreading the ball around and I think they will have success again with this same tactic should they meet again.

Manchester had their chance but instead of playing to win they played not to lose. 2.5 quarters running different variations of the exact same play... JMO. Next time Springs will know what to do earlier to see success and I don’t think the next one will be as close. Once I saw them run the exact same play 3 times in a row with the lead I knew what they were doing and I knew Springs would storm back for the W. Opportunity lost. Congratulations to HSHS for setting the area’s consecutive win record. Here Here HSHS!!
You hit the nail on the head. It's like Manchester's coach graduated from HS or lost a bet or something, ha. The game couldn't have started anymore perfectly for Manchester, and they tried their best to squander it all away.
 

Springers1976

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You hit the nail on the head. It's like Manchester's coach graduated from HS or lost a bet or something, ha. The game couldn't have started anymore perfectly for Manchester, and they tried their best to squander it all away.
I'm reading so much about the possibility of the HC's squander and hardly no respect for HSHS and their effort to put up 26 unanswered points from 16 down! How MHS's coaches and players squandered their lead is subjective, Loren Johnson & Co. did ANOTHER masterful job in adjustments on offense and defense and the players performed virtually error free (unlike the 1st half)!
 
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Wasmith32

Sophomore
Nov 16, 2012
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I'm reading so much about the possibility of the HC's squander and hardly no respect for HSHS and their effort to put up 26 unanswered points from 16 down! However MHS's coaches and players squandered their lead, Loren Johnson & Co. did ANOTHER masterful job in adjustments on offense and defense and the players performed virtually error free (unlike the 1st half)!
MHS didn't beat HSHS in the first half, HSHS beat themselves. MHS had the lead but with a QB that doesn't throw well versus a DLine that plugs everything(beside #23). It was going to even out eventually once HSHS got the offense moving past the 50. HSHS kept there composure and did what they had to do to win, MHS had like 60ish yards in the 2nd half
 
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Gunz41!

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I'm reading so much about the possibility of the HC's squander and hardly no respect for HSHS and their effort to put up 26 unanswered points from 16 down! However MHS's coaches and players squandered their lead, Loren Johnson & Co. did ANOTHER masterful job in adjustments on offense and defense and the players performed virtually error free (unlike the 1st half)!

From an outsider's perspective, it could be the fact that nobody seems to give credit to Manchester. There is really no difference in either side. Saying we were flat, ran vanilla plays, beat ourselves etc is the same as saying the coach gave it away.

Or it could be the fact that HS was supposed to win, and by some accounts should be mentioned with the best teams in the nation.
 

Kingof804

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MHS didn't beat HSHS in the first half, HSHS beat themselves. MHS had the lead but with a QB that doesn't throw well versus a DLine that plugs everything(beside #23). It was going to even out eventually once HSHS got the offense moving past the 50. HSHS kept there composure and did what they had to do to win, MHS had like 60ish yards in the 2nd half
How can you say that? Not only did MHS beat HSHS in the 1st half, they beat them up physically IMOP. I have never seen a team match and/or play as physical as a HSHS football team the way MHS did in the 1st half, that's just me. HSHS had 60/70ish total yards of offense in the 1st half. MHS played a great 1st half and HSHS played a great 2nd half once they got their footing. It is what it is. It's one thing to be subjective but completely another thing to be a fan boy or biased. Give credit where credit is due. That was a great High school football game and both teams and coaching staffs deserve credit for gifting us all with that experience. The team that was suppose to win that night won.
 

Wasmith32

Sophomore
Nov 16, 2012
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How can you say that? Not only did MHS beat HSHS in the 1st half, they beat them up physically IMOP. I have never seen a team match and/or play as physical as a HSHS football team the way MHS did in the 1st half, that's just me. HSHS had 60/70ish total yards of offense in the 1st half. MHS played a great 1st half and HSHS played a great 2nd half once they got their footing. It is what it is. It's one thing to be subjective but completely another thing to be a fan boy or biased. Give credit where credit is due. That was a great High school football game and both teams and coaching staffs deserve credit for gifting us all with that experience. The team that was suppose to win that night won.
I saw self-inflicted turnovers in the first half not a defense shutting them down, yea they came out with a lot of momentum at home but OS came out swinging too(any team trying to knock off the champ usually does come out that way). I saw a HSHS defense that was on the field 70% of the first half and still only down 2 possessions. Did MHS really win the first half or did HSHS stop themselves, honestly?
 
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How can you say that? Not only did MHS beat HSHS in the 1st half, they beat them up physically IMOP. I have never seen a team match and/or play as physical as a HSHS football team the way MHS did in the 1st half, that's just me. HSHS had 60/70ish total yards of offense in the 1st half. MHS played a great 1st half and HSHS played a great 2nd half once they got their footing. It is what it is. It's one thing to be subjective but completely another thing to be a fan boy or biased. Give credit where credit is due. That was a great High school football game and both teams and coaching staffs deserve credit for gifting us all with that experience. The team that was suppose to win that night won.

I agree with you mostly but HSHS had a much more physical game against Oscar Smith this year. That game was 4 quarters of pure physicality. However I have to credit Manchester because they came out 1st half hitting hard but could not sustain it for 4 quarters. HS second fumble was a mental error by the qb on the hand off not caused by anything Manchester defense did. I think if we see them in the playoffs we will win a whole lot easier. People are saying we gifted them points because when Manchester had to drive the length of the field their offense sputtered.
 

Wasmith32

Sophomore
Nov 16, 2012
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@Johnny"football" are you saying Manchester's defense did not cause those fumbles?
I'd say they caused the first QB fumble but the other 2 look like snap exchanges, I'll have to watch the film again on that 3rd one. But can you really say that MHS having the ball in HSHS territory for damn near the entire first half but only up two possessions is a win?
 
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HoosFan05

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They caused 2 fumbles the first on the qb sack and the 3rd on running back strip but not the 2nd one that was just miscommunication on the hand off
I will say, and I said it in the stands too, the fumble on the sack was close, I wasn't sure if the knee was already down. I haven't checked the video though, but it was still a great defensive play.
 
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Kingof804

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I agree with you mostly but HSHS had a much more physical game against Oscar Smith this year. That game was 4 quarters of pure physicality. However I have to credit Manchester because they came out 1st half hitting hard but could not sustain it for 4 quarters. HS second fumble was a mental error by the qb on the hand off not caused by anything Manchester defense did. I think if we see them in the playoffs we will win a whole lot easier. People are saying we gifted them points because when Manchester had to drive the length of the field their offense sputtered.
If “if” was a fifth we’d all be drunk. Just saying! It’s a reason the game is played on the field and not in people’s minds or public forums. I can’t wait to see the rematch, hopefully it’s as entertaining as the 1st.
 
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HoosFan05

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I'd say they caused the first QB fumble but the other 2 look like snap exchanges, I'll have to watch the film again on that 3rd one. But can you really say that MHS having the ball in HSHS territory for damn near the entire first half but only up two possessions is a win?
From a neutral perspective, hell yeah that's a win! But apparently MHS thought it was too much of a win, because they were happy enough to sit on the ball on that final first half drive.
 
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Gunz41!

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Didn't see the game, don't care who won, and the most impartial person in this thread, don't even have a team close to 5a.

It may not be the intention, but reading on here I see trying to explain why we didn't score more, or why we didn't beat a team worse. In both close games, its been this type of talk. And not exactly saying the officials missed the TD call. I am not saying that in the moment it should have been called incomplete, it was SO close, but from what I remember seeing is even with photo evidence some were questioning the photos validity.

Just an outside view from someone who is impartial, no team that would ever play you, and not something against you like it seems a few do
 

HooSprings

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From a neutral perspective, hell yeah that's a win! But apparently MHS thought it was too much of a win, because they were happy enough to sit on the ball on that final first half drive.
I still wonder about that too! They had a legit chance at 3 points before half
 

HoosFan05

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@HooSprings yup, I would've done everything possible to get at least 3 points out of that drive. They had all the momentum and a timeout or 2 to start the drive.
 
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HooSprings

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@HooSprings yup, I would've done everything possible to get at least 3 points out of that drive. They had all the momentum and a timeout or 2.
They had a timeout,and HSHS had not made the defensive adjustment yet. They were running at will on both sides between the tackle & guards. 3 points would have been helpful. You have to bury the champion! You give him a light,he’s gonna getya!

Switching to a 5 man defensive front in the second half,changed the game. A four man secondary was all they needed,not 5.
 

Wasmith32

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Nov 16, 2012
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@HooSprings yup, I would've done everything possible to get at least 3 points out of that drive. They had all the momentum and a timeout or 2 to start the drive.
I would've thrown at the end zone at least once before the half. You cant play not to lose against superior teams, you have to keep punching them in the mouth. MHS was surprised to be up and didn't want to blow it and it showed.
 

HoosFan05

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Switching to a 5 man defensive front in the second half,changed the game. A four man secondary was all they needed,not 5.
And MHS played right into it. I'm not sure if they made any adjustments at all. Their intermediate passing routes were working, #23 was an animal, and they just kept diving and diving and diving.
 
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HooSprings

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I would've thrown at the end zone at least once before the half. You cant play not to lose against superior teams, you have to keep punching them in the mouth. MHS was surprised to be up and didn't want to blow it and it showed.
You don’t mess around with HSHS’s secondary! That’s just asking for trouble! They were running it well,with a timeout left. Just throwing it up with 2 6’1 safeties could end bad!
 
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Wasmith32

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Nov 16, 2012
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And MHS played right into it. I'm not sure if they made any adjustments at all. Their intermediate passing routes were working, #23 was an animal, and they just kept diving and diving and diving.
#23 looked like a man out there, he gave HSHS all they wanted and some but you cant sustain that type of play for 4 qts. That's when coaching and adjustments put kids in position to be successful.
 
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Wasmith32

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Nov 16, 2012
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You don’t mess around with HSHS’s secondary! That’s just asking for trouble! They were running it well,with a timeout left. Just throwing it up with 2 6’1 safeties could end bad!
With the momentum they had, it would've been equal to a punt if picked. worse case 100yd pick six but you already playing with house money you gotta go for the dagger.
 

HoosFan05

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@Johnny"football" I disagree on that. #23 showed no signs of slowing down or looking tired. Keep feeding the beast until he's stuffed. The best running teams do that and show no mercy. Salem does that, and the best Bird teams did that. It wears defenses down. Manchester showed subtle signs of an identity crisis, they were in their own way and confused on what to do.
 
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Kingof804

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I still wonder about that too! They had a legit chance at 3 points before half
Or a blocked/missed FG for 6. I would’ve been more aggressive at that point but I do understand the logic given HSHS had already block a PAT. Definitely a toss up. You can’t beat a good team in one play. Series by series, quarter by quarter that’s how you win.
 
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HoosFan05

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23# was cramping up. I believe he had to play defense as well. Was using cramp rollers on the sidelines. HS depth was the difference and made the big plays in the second half. Fun game to watc .
Thanks, but they could've rested him on defense anyway. The way the game was going, he was much more needed on offense.
 

Kingof804

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They had a timeout,and HSHS had not made the defensive adjustment yet. They were running at will on both sides between the tackle & guards. 3 points would have been helpful. You have to bury the champion! You give him a light,he’s gonna getya!

Switching to a 5 man defensive front in the second half,changed the game. A four man secondary was all they needed,not 5.
I didn’t see any adjustments with the front. They were in and out of a 4 and 5 down all game. I even seen a 3 down to in the start of 3rd quarter. Honestly thought the kids just started to make plays. No real adjustment!
 
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DinwiddieProud

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After reading all the banter about who did this, didn't do that and everything in between... let's listen to Coach Johnson's account on this game...

Thanks for posting this interview, buddy. If anybody wonders why HSHS football is so successful, simply pay attention to what Coach J has to say. His whole coaching philosophy is based on the "big picture", not just the moment.
 

HooSprings

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I didn’t see any adjustments with the front. They were in and out of a 4 and 5 down all game. I even seen a 3 down to in the start of 3rd quarter. Honestly thought the kids just started to make plays. No real adjustment!
Johnson pulled #2,the 5th DB,and and went to a 53 Defense which forced the Manchester guards to block at the line. In the first half,they were able to get to the LBs with no resistance. Once they were forced to block lineman,HSHS was able to make plays from the LBs. They even moved Malcolm Green up to play OLB to shut down whatever side he chose. Any time HSHS was in the 4 down,Manchester capitalized on it early. HSHS stayed in the 5 until they took the lead,forcing Manchester to throw into 5 DBs. The change was made on the first drive of the second half.