A Manor Mustangs touchdown scored with less than a minute left in the game Friday doomed the Dripping Springs Tigers in a heartbreaking 43-40 bi-district round playoff loss at Tiger Stadium.
Dripping Springs (8-3) was forced keep pace with an explosive Manor offense right out of the gates. A 20-yard touchdown from Mustang running back Tahj Brooks gave Manor a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point. Tigers senior quarterback Tanner Prewit followed by orchestrating back-to-back touchdown drives, giving Dripping Springs a 14-6 lead after one quarter.
However, Brooks took over in the second quarter, helping Manor build a 20-14 lead.
The Tigers retaliated via a touchdown run from wide receiver Cameron O’Banan that gave Dripping Springs a slim 21-20 lead going into halftime.
Scores were exchanged by both teams throughout the third quarter. Prewitt connected with senior wide receiver Parker Alford for a wide open 25-yard touchdown on a post route to start the second half.
The Mustangs retaliated with a 6-yard touchdown run from Brooks, who finished the game with five total touchdowns. Following a Tiger fumble, the Mustangs added a 34-yard field goal to take a 29-28 lead heading into the fourth frame.
Prewitt tallied two touchdowns in the second half, one a pass to wide receiver Enzo Arnold, and the other via a three-yard quarterback sneak. The latter allowed Dripping Springs to recapture the lead at 40-35.
Manor did not relent and matched the Tigers score-for-score. Following a key kickoff return, Brooks capped off a late scoring drive by plunging in for a one-yard touchdown, giving Manor a 43-40 lead with 57 seconds left.
Following a defensive holding penalty, and a spectacular catch from O’Banan, the Tigers placed themselves in field goal range with six seconds left.
But a would-be 30-yard game tying field goal attempt by sophomore kicker Coleman Chapman bent right and bounced off the upright, effectively ending the Tigers season.
The Tigers finished with 548 total yards of offense, 302 passing, 246 rushing. Manor collected 432 yards offensively but forced three turnovers.
