Week 9: Manhattan rolls past Garden City 47–15 behind explosive rushing attack
Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 — Manhattan, Kan.
Garden City struck for a 65-yard touchdown through the air to stay within reach midway through the second quarter, but defending state runner-up Manhattan imposed its will on the ground and ran away late for a 47–15 win on Friday night. The Buffaloes fall to 1-8 overall and 0-5 in Western Athletic Conference play, while the Indians improve to 7-2 and 4-1 in league action heading into the postseason.
How Manhattan Won
After both teams traded early punts, Manhattan quarterback Evan Mortenson powered across the goal line from one yard out with 59 seconds left in the opening quarter to open a 7-0 lead. Garden City responded with a red-zone chance early in the second but turned it over on downs at the seven-yard line — a missed opportunity that swung momentum.
Manhattan immediately cashed in, as Jaden Massenberg broke free for a 30-yard scoring run, followed by a successful two-point try to make it 15-0. The Buffaloes answered two minutes later when Ryder Carr hauled in a 65-yard strike for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 15-7, their lone score of the half. But a late field goal by Balderson stretched the Indians’ lead to 18-7 heading into the locker room.
The third quarter belonged to Manhattan’s offensive front. Eli Watson punched in a one-yard touchdown midway through the frame to push the advantage to 25-7. Garden City appeared to claw back with a potential end-zone completion wiped away by a holding call, and Tate Heavner’s ensuing interception ended the drive and the rally.
Manhattan piled on in the fourth: Watson scored again from eight yards out, Wassenberg connected on a 21-yard touchdown pass, and Middleton scooped a fumble 80 yards for another score. Garden City closed the night with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Strecker in the final seconds, adding a successful two-point conversion to make it 47–15.
Garden City Takeaways
The Buffaloes generated flashes of big-play potential — Carr’s deep-ball touchdown and late scoring drive showcased their vertical ability — but inconsistency in protection and penalties in key moments derailed sustained momentum. Defensively, Garden City battled against one of 6A’s most physical rushing units, but Manhattan’s depth and drive balance eventually wore them down. The team’s resilience showed in a late-game push that kept the scoreboard from tilting further, but early red-zone execution remains a point of emphasis heading into Week 10.
Manhattan Takeaways
Manhattan’s reputation as a disciplined, bruising contender remained intact. The Indians combined downhill power with speed on the perimeter, rolling up multiple explosive runs while limiting mistakes. Their defensive front contained Garden City’s rushing lanes and forced a key turnover that sealed control in the third quarter. With the win, Manhattan locked in a 7-2 regular season — momentum for another deep postseason run.
Up Next
Garden City closes its regular season on the road, falling to 1-8 overall and 0-4 in the WAC.
Manhattan, now 7-2 (3-1 in conf.) and the defending 6A state runner-up, heads into the second round of playoffs on a four-game win streak and will host its second-round matchup next week against Wichita.