By DAVID PIERCE
Sports Connection Team
MANILA – As if it wasn’t enough the Manila Lions were facing the 3A’s seventh ranked team in their first 3A-3 conference game. Mother Nature just compounded the problem with blowing rain and soggy field conditions.
The Lions (0-4, 0-1) couldn’t overcome either and were blanked by Walnut Ridge, 38-0, Friday.
Walnut Ridge scored 30 first half points enroute to the shutout victory and remained undefeated at 4-0.
While the Bobcats navigated through the sloppy field piling up 373 yards rushing, Manila just couldn’t generate any offense.
The Lions worked between the 30-yard lines throughout the game. Their best scoring opportunity came in the first quarter when they trailed 14-0.
Luke Roberts recovered a Walnut Ridge fumble at the Bobcat 39-yard line setting up 1st-and-10.
It was the senior’s second fumble recovery of the game. The first came early in the game with Walnut Ridge threatening to score from inside Manila’s 10-yard line. The snap sailed over Jersie Cunningham’s head and Roberts tracked the ball down at the Manila 35-yard line.
As it did that time, Manila couldn’t seize the opportunity and only mustered a yard on two plays before fumbling itself.
All in all, Manila managed just 80 yards – 54 rushing and 26 passing – as the coaching staff tried both Isaac Moore and Patrick Fisher at quarterback. The two combined for 2-of-12 passing for just 26 yards – a 21-yard completion to Roberts and a five-yarder to Trey Platz. The Bobcats Braden Croney also intercepted a pass.
Brody Morris led the Lions with 28 yards on seven carries. The longest run from scrimmage was Matthew Walker’s 13-yard run in fourth quarter.
Manila fumbled four times, losing two, and the turned the ball over on downs four times as well.
Walnut Ridge, meanwhile, exceeded its 300-yard rushing per game average with the 373 total. Cunningham finished with 230 yards and three touchdowns, while Enrique Perez totaled 52 yards and two touchdowns.
Cunningham’s 43-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, plus his two-point pass completion to Trevor Augustine, capped the scoring and set the sportsmanship clock in motion.
Walnut Ridge returns to Mississippi County Friday to face the upstart Osceola Seminoles (2-1, 1-0) in a game which could determine the early frontrunner for the conference title.
Manila goes west to face its second straight Lawrence County team in the Hoxie Mustangs.
Hoxie (1-3, 0-1) dropped its league opener to Osceola, 44-7.