For the second year in a row, Manchester and Midlothian gave spectators their monies worth. Last fall, it was the Trojans who had the final word against the Lancers 42-35 after trailing 28-7 late in the game. Friday night, Manchester had the last laugh as they stopped Midlothian on their game winning two-point conversion attempt to secure the 31-30 double overtime victory.

The Trojans struck first when senior placekicker Maxx Lawton booted a 43-yard field goal attempt to give his team the 3-0 lead. After forcing a Manchester punt, Midlothian went back to work on offense. Cooper Meads scored on a 10-yard keeper (Kick Heleniak) to extend the lead to 10 with 10:42 remaining in the half.

Manchester finally put points on the board on their fourth possession of the game when Jon Davis hit a 33-yard field goal attempt. The Lancer defense came alive on the ensuing drive and forced a Midlothian punt.

Junior signal caller Jason Wright was handed the keys to the offense for the remainder of the game at this point, and he marched his team down the field to put them in scoring position.

Wright shook some defenders and lofted a beautiful pass to a wide open Ty'ee Stephens in the end zone, but Stephens was unable to hold onto the ball. Midlothian got the ball back and ran the clock out to send the game to halftime.

Manchester tied the game on their first possession of the second half when Wright called his own number on a one-yard score (Kick Davis). The Lancers took a 17-10 lead with 6:39 remaining in the game when Wright tossed a lateral to Devin Bryant, who then threw a bomb to Stephens to complete the 72-yard halfback pass (Kick Davis).

Things appeared bleak for the Trojans on their next drive as they dropped three straight passes and were forced to punt the ball away. However, their defense stepped up and stopped the Lancers on 4th and short to give their offense one more crack at tying it up.

Midlothian did not squander their opportunity and tied the game when Meads found Dominic Lawton all alone in the back of the end zone for a 33-yard score (Kick Lawton).

Meads tossed his second touchdown pass of the evening on Midlothian's first drive of overtime when he found Ashby Berry on a 12-yard strike (Kick Heleniak). Trailing 24-17, the Lancers were faced with 4th and goal from the 5-yard line. Wright rolled out to his right then looked back to his left and found Kyree Richardson who made a spectacular sliding catch (Kick Davis) to send the game into the second overtime period.

Wright scored his second rushing touchdown of the night to give his team the 31-24 lead (Kick Davis) on the first drive of the second overtime. Meads would respond with his second rushing touchdown to bring his Trojans within one point of sending the game into a third overtime.

Midlothian opted to go for the win but Ashby Berry's reverse pass attempt intended for Drew Kleski sailed out the back of the end zone.

With the win, Manchester (6-1) has now won six straight since their opening week loss to Highland Springs, and they are looking like a serious contender in the Region 6A playoffs. They will travel a few miles down Hull Street next week to take on Cosby (3-4) who is coming off a 49-0 victory over Huguenot. The Titans are fighting for the eighth and final spot in Region 6A.

Midlothian (6-1) suffered their first loss of the year but they are still in great shape as the prepare for the Region 5C playoffs. They return to action next week against winless George Wythe (0-6) and should get back in the win column.

IMPACT PLAYERS

Midlothian

Cooper Meads - 8/18 80 yards 2 TDs; 8 carries 64 yards 2 TDs

Ashby Berry - 20 carries 79 yards; 3 receptions 19 yards TD; 7 tackles

Dominic Lawton - 1 reception 33 yards TD

Ryan Runyon - 7.5 tackles

Manchester

Jason Wright - 8/13 80 yards TD; 22 carries 72 yards 2 TDs

Devin Bryant - 1/1 72 yards TD; 13 carries 80 yards

Ty'ee Stephens - 4 receptions 100 yards TD

Kyree Richardson - 2 receptions 16 yards TD

Alazha Lewis - 11.5 tackles