No. 6 Manvel downs No. 9 Crosby 35-21 in battle of Top 10 teams

By AD Jewell
Contributing Writer
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

ALVIN, TEXAS (August 27, 2016) Even mother nature couldn't resist showing up for the season opening showdown on Friday, August 26, 2016 between the No. 6 Manvel Mavericks and No. 9 Crosby Cougars. After a hour rain delay at Alvin Memorial Stadium, both top ranked teams took the field to kickoff the 2016 high school football season. 

And what a kick off it was, Crosby received the kick and on the first snap of the game senior quarterback Mannie Netherly, took the ball 71 yards for the first touchdown. Crosby would miss the extra point leaving the score 6-0. 

Netherly, who is also a  standout receiver pledged to LSU, passed for a total of 171 yards and would also rush for 92 yards. Netherly threw two touchdown passes and one interception. Junior Craig Williams would receive a TD pass on a 14 -play drive in the second quarter and junior Cedric Patterson III would get a 24-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter for Crosby. 

Manvel also debuted a new quarterback,  junior Kason Martin. In a stellar 28 point second quarter, Martin threw for a total of 233 yards, three touchdown passes and one interception. One of the passes in the 2nd quarter was an impressive 85 yard catch and run touchdown by junior Jalen Preston. Preston would also run for an 11 yard touchdown on the following drive. After an action packed first half Manvel lead Crosby 35-14.

Manvel’s defense made its presence known throughout the whole game, shutting down Crosby’s running backs and racking up a total of three sacks on Netherly. Lance Bryant, Xavier Rosette, and Kobe Foster all got sacks for Manvel. 

Both teams will have to spend some time this week working on penalties. Twenty-six combined penalties were given for a total of 282 yards. 

The only score of the second half would come with 5:35 left in the game. Netherly would find Patterson for his second touchdown pass bringing the final score at Memorial Stadium to Manvel 35, Crosby 21.

While both teams had struggles with penalties, they also had successes in their new quarterbacks.  Both teams look prepped for great seasons of district play. Next week Manvel heads to North Shore and Crosby takes on Houston Reagan.