Manvel forced two first-half turnovers and scored after both to build a three-score lead...
Manvel's Andrew Riley fights past Friendswood's Eli St. John Friday, Sep. 16, 2022 at Friendswood High School.A week after a difficult district-opening loss to Angleton, the Mavericks forced two first-half turnovers and scored after both to build a three-score lead they rode to a 24-14 win over Friendswood on Friday at Winston Stadium.“To come in here and win was big,” Manvel coach Kevin Hall said.
“So this week, we had a good week of practice, we worked on the mental things, the little things, and I’m proud of how they played.The game was close until the Mustangs lost the reins. The trouble started late in the second quarter. Friendswood quarterback Brock Foster rolled to his left, but he was hit hard before he threw, fumbled, and Manvel’s defense recovered at the Friendswood 10-yard line. Two plays later, running back Andrew Riley found the end zone for a 10-0 lead with 4:05 remaining.After defensive back Quincy Nevins’ interception and 13-yard return, the Mavericks marched 44 yards on seven plays and scored on Riley’s 1-yard run.
“Offense took advantage of the turnovers and scored,” Hall said. “But it’s like I told them at halftime, in terms of offense, when you’re good, you’re really good, and when you’re not good, you’re really not good. So we’ve got to get into a rhythm. We have our quarterback back from last year, but when you’re throwing in 10 new people around him, it takes time. It’s not like putting something in a microwave. It’s like cooking brisket.
But he couldn’t recapture the magic until it was too late, breaking a 53-yard scoring run on Friendswood’s final series. He helped the Mustangs convert two fourth downs two possessions earlier, but ended up throwing an interception to Avery Demery.