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Dutchmen break losing streak, beat Napoleon 56-27

Junior Manchester running back #1 Collin McCaffrey sprints around Napoleon defense for a second-quarter touchdown.

Editor Note: This week Flying Dutchmen Varsity Football Coverage sponsor is JoAnn Okey.

by Tyler Scott

It might be all starting to come together.

The Flying Dutchmen earned their first victory of the season Friday, winning 56-27 on the road against the Napoleon Pirates. A torrent of big-yardage plays by Manchester offense led to the lopsided win in Cascades Conference competition.

“They played like I envisioned us starting the year off,” said Manchester Head Coach Mike Blumenauer. “It the offensive line finally gelling up front and getting everything figured out.”

The Flying Dutchmen (1-2, 1-1) scored early in the first quarter when senior quarterback Tyler Horky ran up the middle and dodged a few Napoleon defenders to gain 39 yards and a touchdown. The pirates had no immediate answer. Two plays after Napoleon punted, Horky found junior wide receiver Hayden Taylor for a 33-yard touchdown pass.

“We’ve got a really good group of skilled players,” Blumenauer said.

But it the improved play of the linemen, he says, that led to the dominant victory.

The Manchester offensive line, led by senior Simon Lato, cleared room for their ball carriers to dazzle all game. Junior running back Collin McCaffrey led the Flying Dutchmen rushing with 190 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries. Senior quarterback Tyler Horky completed 8/12 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, along with 94 rushing yards and two touchdowns on three carries.

“(The lineman are) communicating a lot better inside there and really getting our double-team (blocks) working and getting some movement,” Blumenauer said. “And we’ve got experienced guys in the backfield that know what to do with a little bit of movement. It just all builds off that stuff inside.”

The Pirates (1-2, 1-1) tested Manchester defense. Despite only scoring once through three quarters, Napoleon gained over 300 yards on offense and possessed the football nearly 31 minutes.

But The Flying Dutchmen led 35-7 by halftime and continued to break big running plays in the second half, piling up yardage and requiring little time or many plays to extend their lead.��

“They’re big up front, athletic,” said Napoleon head coach Derek Shell. “Defensively we had trouble stopping them.”

When Pirate senior quarterback Tobin McCrum threw a touchdown to senior fullback Kale Fairbanks to nibble at Manchester lead in the third quarter, the Flying Dutchmen answered back on the very next play on offense – a 48 yard touchdown run by McCafferey.

Undeterred, Napoleon was able to make plays on offense and wear down the lead with a few more touchdown scores in the final quarter, but not enough, and not soon enough.

McCrum finished 23/38 passing with four touchdowns, including a touchdown pass to junior receiver Tyler Schneider as time expired to end the game.

“We’re coming together, but our depth issues showed up late in the game here,” said Blumenauer. “We gave up some touchdowns but it was some good work.”

Friday, Manchester hosts East Jackson at home. Napoleon beat East Jackson 15-12 in week two of the season for the Pirates’ only victory so far.

Tyler Scott covers football for the Manchester Mirror. He also hosts Weekend Afternoons on Michigan Radio (NPR)

Flying Dutchmen Varsity Football Coverage is only possible because of generous sponsors and supporters. This week coverage is thanks to sponsor JoAnn Okey.��If you would like to sponsor varsity sports coverage in the Mirror click here for more information.

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.