Southwest drops opener

Schenck runs back kickoff 73 yards for TD

The South Junior High eighth-grade football team sprints to a water break during practice. South and other area junior highs open their seasons today. For coverage, see tomorrow's edition of Game in the Journal-World.

Manhattan downed Southwest, 20-14, in the Bulldogs’ thrilling junior high football opener on Wednesday at Southwest. Manhattan scored on a three-yard pass with eight seconds left for the final margin.

Preston Schenck scored on a 73-yard kickoff return and Cody Oller a 42-yard run. Oller added a two-point conversion.

Coach Skip Bennett cited the entire Bulldog defense for strong play.

“Manhattan had a very, very good team. They outnumbered us 2-1. They had 60 kids; we had 30,” Bennett said. “They had some outstanding skilled players. They had a very skillful back who will be good at the varsity level, and our guys did a good job of knowing their assignments, and as the game went on they shut him down more and more.

“We had a tough time at the beginning, but our kids were overall aggressive and did a good job of following their assignments. The overall aggressiveness was pretty impressive for the first game.”

Southwest will travel to SM North on Wednesday.