Streakbusters! Rural snaps 16-game Manhattan win streak, 35-28
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
In a monstrous clash that included four ties and a couple of lead changes between Class 6A powers Washburn Rural and Manhattan, Rural celebrated its Homecoming in classic fashion, ending reigning state champion Manhattan's 16-game winning streak with a 35-28 Centennial League win at Bowen-Glaza Stadium.
Washburn Rural's defense celebrates Friday's 35-28 Centennial League win over reigning Class 6A state champion Manhattan, which had its 16-game win streak snapped. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior Wilson Miller (2) is congratulated by his teammates after his third-quarter pick-six Friday night against Manhattan. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"Manhattan and Junction City have been ruling the roost for a long time,'' Washburn Rural coach Steve Buhler said. "For us to be able to do this and to compete and win a game against a team like Manhattan, these kids have worked really hard for this moment.
"Our kids just keep battling and that's what we keep preaching to them. This is a very talented bunch of guys we've got and I think the more they get in these situations and are successful the better we're going to be. A win like this one kind of cements for the kids in their minds that they're good enough to compete with good teams in the state.''
Junior King Leonard set up the game-winning touchdown with Washburn Rural's third pass interception of the night, giving the Junior Blues the ball at the Manhattan 31-yard-line.
Rural senior quarterback Branton DeWeese gained 8 yards to the Indian 23 and then DeWeese found a wide-open Blake Recinos and the junior out-raced the Indian defense to the end zone for the game-winner with 25 seconds remaining.
"We scored on spot,'' Recinos said of the game-winning play. "We had a trips right spot and you just had a little out route and you've got to get up and make a play. That's as open as it gets in most cases.
"All that was going through my mind is just get to the end zone. This was a true team effort.''
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