Grove City Christian 96, Manchester 20

[awesomepossum]

Grove City Christian 96, Manchester 20

Anybody see anything wrong here?? Whats the deal? 96 points?

[KY Buckeye]

A lot of people see a score like this and like to take shots without having seen the game, but GCC really appeared to do everything in its power to keep the score down. Manchester isn't exactly the best tackling team in the world.

GCC's starting tailback touched the ball 10 times and scored on 6 of them. Starting QB threw 8 passes and four went for TDs. They had pretty much called off the dogs in the early second quarter but couldn't help getting return TDs or handing it off to 3rd, 4th, 5th sting RBs up the middle and having them break away for touchdowns. At one point before the half, the fullback breaks what would have been a 50 yard TD but runs out of bounds. Gets called back due to holding, they run the same play again, the kid breaks it again for what would have been a 70 yard TD, runs out of bounds again and they kneel to run out the half. Based on their play calling, I think they were determined not to score at all in the fourth quarter, but how are you going to tell a kid who probably never gets to play not to retrun a pick 90 yards if he has the chance? Then they just kneeled on the PAT.

As we've seen so far this year, for having only 19 healthy kids and no seniors, Manchester has a few decent players on offense and usually gets their share of points. Yesterday's first half was kind of a perfect storm in that their defense is never going to stop anybody but the O turned it over a bunch of times to make it worse. To their credit, these kids could have packed it in being down 76-0 at the half but they come out and get TDs on their first three possessions of the second half.

[KY Buckeye]

Game Story

[TriState]

I talked to one of the officials after the game last night, and he told me that there was nothing else Grove City could have done to keep the score down in his opinion. He told me that they used about ten different running backs, ran out of bounds repeatedly, and took a knee several times inside the ten yard line. He also told me that Manchester's coach turned down an offer to run eight-minute, continuous clock quarters in the second half, as well as a commitment to have Grove City's freshmen, who played the entire second half, not score any more points. In his opinion, there just was not much more that the visitors could have done. Too bad for the Greyhounds, but keep your heads up boys, we will get one here soon.

[loganlocos]

I talked to one of the officials after the game last night, and he told me that there was nothing else Grove City could have done to keep the score down in his opinion. He told me that they used about ten different running backs, ran out of bounds repeatedly, and took a knee several times inside the ten yard line. He also told me that Manchester's coach turned down an offer to run eight-minute, continuous clock quarters in the second half, as well as a commitment to have Grove City's freshmen, who played the entire second half, not score any more points. In his opinion, there just was not much more that the visitors could have done. Too bad for the Greyhounds, but keep your heads up boys, we will get one here soon.

Anytime a coach turns down running a continuous clock in the second half you can't blame the other team for scoring a bunch of points.

Every expects the winners to run out of bounds, take a knee, etc, but isn't there some responsibility on behalf of the losers as well?

Run a continuous clock, run the football, and eat up clock. If Manchester was throwing the ball late in the game, then it was the coaches mistake to elongate the game as much as it was Grove City's fault.

[4 HORSEMEN]

It sounds like they did everything they could do NOT to embarass the kids from Manchester.............

The only thing they can do, is make sure this game is NOT scheduled in the future

[s.v.vikinglinex2]

at least manchesters high school showed up to play. their jr. high did not show up to play symmes valley jr. high last thursday. think our high school should return the favor next year.

[Ironman92]

^^^^why? Was it the kids in jr high who chose not to come or the coaches or administration.

How can running a team into the ground accomplish anything from the jr high game.

11 TD's in the 1st half.......I just can't fathom how there is enough time to do such a thing.......but whatever. Does Manchester ever run the ball? I mean scoring a TD every 2 min and 12 seconds for a whole half?

[s.v.vikinglinex2]

not run them in the ground. no team needs that on either end. we should just drop them and play someone else next year. if they could not even call to let us know they were not coming why mess with them.

[oldcoachb]

You can always work on your punting game. Just punt it back to them and let your young kids play defense.

[TAR HEEL FAN44]

Well I am sorry to be the bad apple here...Grove City did not pull there starters till 1:27 left in the second quarter. Now the running back (#28) was very fast and mancheter did do a bad job of tackling. But the coach for Grove City bought him back in the game at the 4:00 minute mark in the 2nd quarter and he ran a 60 yard touchdown to just pathen some stats. Now I will give Grove City some credit with under a minute left to go the second quarter the second sting running back had a touchdown but ran out of bounce and Grove City took a knee to end the 1st half. If it was me the starters should been out of the game after the end of the 1st quarter. Just my opinion speaking here. But give alot of credit to the Greyhounds those kids did not quit. Boys just keep working hard and keep your heads up. GO GREYHOUNDS!!

[greyhoundsbob]

I don't think anyone is being a bad apple, I just think that in fairness to Grove City Christian we should keep our facts straight. They scored their last touchdown of the first half with over five minutes to play, and #28 had only one carry for the 60 yard touchdown with about eight or nine minutes to go in the quarter. They also ran out of bounds twice to avoid scoring in the first half, and again with their young guys at the end of the game. I talked to my wife about it at the game, and we both agreed that playing the first string for one half was fair game since they have to keep trying to get better too. I wish the score would have been lower like everyone, but I don't for a second think they were being unfair to us or our boys. I do wish we could have figured out a way to stop them, but I also know we are still learning. I don't blame Coach for not taking shorter quarters in the second half, and I also don't blame their young guys for trying to score aginst us. Ugly game, but lets move on and beat Clermont!

[Frank Reagan]

This game is 100% proof that the state of Ohio or the NF needs to implement a mercy rule of some sort. The only legal way to shorten a game is for both coaches to agree to shorten the quarters. Most, like in this case, won't allow it for one reason or another (usually pride). To me, it seems fair, a running clock with a 35 or more score differential should keep 96 points from being scored.

[The_X_Factor]

Manchester has previously had a second half running clock this year. I don't know why they didn't do it this time except maybe wanting to have as much time as possible to score some points for the home fans.

[boogerred]

I hate that for the kids, but I would rather lose 10,000 - 0 than shorten quarters.

[MTSWNGRVSG]

I think it is in the NF rules that in the second half that if one team is up 35 or more the clock becomes a running clock some states use this rule. In some state if a coach beats a team by over 50, the coach is fined. Sometimes you have to do what is best for the kids.

[Ironman92]

I'd rather lose by 50+ than have the opponent purposely not try.

[91blue14]

96 points the most i have evr heard of

[The Riepo Man]

Is this Manchester's first year with a team?? I dont think Grove City did anything wrong...Manchester just couldn't stop them from scoring. Now the second string runningback goin out of bounds would embarrass me more, as a player, than being outscored by 76. Though it is an example of great sportsmanship...I dont want another teams pitty. I agree with Ironman92. Id rather lose by alot than have the other team just stop trying...that would make me feel like we arent worth the effort. I would keep the starters in until halftime. Sure it may seem terrible but lets be honest Grove City is trying to improve too...Football is a tough sport...and football, like life, may seem unfair at times. Its how you respond to hard times that shows what kind of person and/or team you really are...Manchester should use this loss as a reason to try harder than they thought possible and work to improve in every aspect

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I DON'T CARE IF YOUR THE WINDSHIELD OR THE BUG, NOBODY ON EITHER SIDE, COACH WISE WANTED THIS. ONE ONE SIDE. YOU ARE TRYING TO HOLD IT DOWN, AND ON THE OTHER SIDE YOU ARE TRYING TO INSTILL WE PLAY TO THE WHISTLE, WE ARE BUILDING A PROGRAM HERE. NOBNODY WINS. MOVE ON.