The thick clouds of fog drifting above L.C. Bird’s Dutchman Field on Friday night time shrouded a lot a pad-popping hit.
When the Skyhawks meet Manchester, it is all the time a bodily grueling battle, mentioned Lancers coach Tom Hall.
And although Bird (5-3) made their No. 3-ranked Chesterfield County neighbors struggle for each yard, senior West Virginia recruit Makai Byerson proved a game-wrecking power on each side of the ball as his Lancers (7-1) doled out loads of their very own punishment in a 22-7 grinder of a Dominion District victory.
A wet however joyful Friday from Dutchman Field, RVA, the place No. 3 @lancer_footbal (6-1) is visiting @LCBfootball (5-2) in a marquee Dominion District showdown … I’ll have @804Varsity updates ✌️🏈@RTDSports @RTDNEWS @TheRVASportsNet @MHSLancers @bird_athletics pic.twitter.com/LfxhMV0HXd
— Zach Joachim (@ZachJoachim) October 20, 2023
“They play soccer the best way it is meant to be performed, these children struggle for that hole duty,” Hall mentioned of the Skyhawks, noting his admiration for the schemes drawn up by Bird defensive coordinator and shut pal Matt Bland.
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“We informed ’em all week, it’ll be a type of video games the place you fasten up that chin strap somewhat tight, tighten up these shoulder pads as a result of it is Bird-Manchester. I used to be actual happy with how our youngsters responded.”
Manchester High soccer coach Tom Hall after 22-7 win over L.C Bird
Byerson got here into the season recovering from a torn quad, so the Lancers initially restricted his work to the defensive facet of the ball.
But because the season progressed and the long run Mountaineer has gotten more healthy, Hall’s workers has more and more labored Byerson, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive finish, into the offensive sport plan at tight finish.
“Each week we have tried to search out alternative ways to get him the ball,” Hall mentioned. “He was huge for us tonight on each side.”
Manchester soccer DE, TE Makai Byerson after 22-7 win over L.C. Bird
On the fourth play from scrimmage, Lancers sophomore QB Landen Abernethy faked a pitch to senior working again Devin Bryant. Much of the Bird protection adopted the movement, and Abernethy threw again throughout the road of scrimmage to Byerson, located behind a convoy of blockers, which guided him 62 yards to the top zone.
“I had my linemen out in entrance of me getting blocks, we have been practising all of it week. Once I broke the primary deal with, I mentioned ‘Got another man to beat,'” Byerson mentioned.
“Broke the second deal with, and it was simply ‘Get in your excessive horse,’ from there.”
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Byerson mentioned he feels again to 100%, and relishes the chance to have an effect on the sport on each side of the ball. He led a number of move rushers in forcing a key sack-fumble within the second quarter to quell a promising Bird drive.
And Byerson was a cornerstone of a dominant collective effort by the Lancers entrance to carry a usually formidable Skyhawks floor sport to only 71 yards.
Senior linebacker Alazha Lewis, senior defensive again Jaden Plantin and sophomore finish Jervell Barksdale have been among the many contributors to that effort.
“We simply flipped the swap,” Byerson mentioned of the defensive exhibiting. “And the scoreboard confirmed it. … We got here collectively and performed Lancer soccer.”
Manchester High RB Corey Holland TD run in 22-7 win over L.C. Bird
Corey Holland’s 5-yard TD plunge made it 13-0 earlier than Bird obtained on the board within the second quarter through a 5-yard landing move from QB Brad Hurt to again Sir-Paul Cheeks.
The Skyhawks hung round, seemingly inside hanging distance a lot of the night time. But Byerson had the ultimate phrase to place the end result to relaxation.
Up 16-7, Manchester drove 73 yards in seven performs to succeed in the Bird 15 with 6:06 remaining within the fourth quarter.
Abernethy faked to the working again, then threw to Byerson on a slant over the center. The tight finish absorbed a success, bobbled the ball, then secured it whereas rumbling in for a landing with 4 defenders draped round him.
“We’d simply put that play in, I’d seen the linebacker blitzing laborious, thought we may run it,” mentioned a grinning Byerson.
“I noticed Landen, Landen noticed me, the DB hit it somewhat bit however, focus, get in the long run zone.”
Manchester High soccer star Makai Byerson 15-yard landing catch in 22-7 win over L.C. Bird
Bird amassed 172 yards of offense, 101 of that via the air because the home staff diverted from its ground-and-pound popularity to throw the ball 24 instances with Hurt, lately returned from an damage absence.
Manchester rushed for 219 yards and threw for 142. Bryant, whom Hall known as “as true blue collar as you might be,” was a workhorse, carrying 24 instances for 117 yards, whereas juniors Corey Holland (10 for 78) and Malik Holiday (three for 26) spelled him affectively.
“He’s the epitome of what Manchester soccer is,” Hall mentioned of Bryant, including that his host of ball carriers is “a great drawback to have.”
Abernethy accomplished 7 of 14 makes an attempt for 142 yards and the TDs to Byerson, who caught two passes for 77 yards.
Junior Donovan Artis stepped up with two catches for 56 yards because the Bird secondary blanketed senior main receiver and University of Richmond recruit Kyree Richardson with double and bracketed protection all night time.
Manchester started the week within the No. 3 spot of a hotly-contested Region 6A playoff subject with a 30.57 ranking behind solely Thomas Dale (33.43) and Highland Springs (31.86).
The Lancers end towards Richmond City (0-6) and Cosby (3-5), so Hall’s squad is in a great position to not less than preserve its seed, and will transfer up ought to the Knights or Springers falter.
Bird entered the week with the No. 7 seed within the Region 5C subject with a ranking of 25.14. The Skyhawks could have to win out to make the playoffs, and that will not be easy with video games at Cosby and Midlo (5-3) to shut the season.
The Trojans, which misplaced to James River (3-5) 13-12 on Friday, entered the week No. 9 in Region 5C with a 24.57 ranking. So that Bird at Midlothian sport on November 3 seems to be prefer it may show a play-in sport for the ultimate playoff spot in Region 5C, although Midlo has a tricky check at No. 10 Huguenot (5-2) subsequent week.
Man – Byerson 62 move from Abernethy (Hernandez kick)
Man – Holland 5 run (kick failed)
LCB – Cheeks 5 move from Hurt (Showalter kick)
Man – Byerson 15 move from Abernethy (kick failed)
Man: Bryant 14-117, Abernethy 1-(-)2, Holland 10-78, Holiday 3-26; LCB: Lowe 16-62, Cheeks 5-11, Hurt 1-(-)2.
Man: Abernethy 7-14-142-2-0; LCB: Hurt 10-24-101-1-0; Hendrickson 0-2-0-0-0.
Man: Byerson 2-77, Richardson 2-12, Green 1-(-)3, Artis 2-56; LCB: Cheeks 3-29, Coleman 2-33, Collins 2-21, Duggar 2-18, Pope 1-0.
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PHOTOS: L.C. Bird vs. Manchester
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L.C. Bird quarterback Bradley Hurt throws the ball on Oct. 20, 2023, at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Manchester head coach Tom Hall motions from the sidelines on Oct. 20, 2023, at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Manchester working again Corey Holland scores a landing on Oct. 20, 2023, at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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L.C. Bird working again Sir-Paul Cheeks scores a landing on Oct. 20, 2023, at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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L.C. Bird working again La’Tavion Lowe runs with the ball on Oct. 20, 2023, at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Manchester working again Malik Holiday-Marceus will get tackled by L.C. Bird defensive again Christopher Whitehead on Oct. 20, 2023, at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Manchester working again Devin Bryant will get deal with by L.C. Bird’s La’Tavion Lowe, Sha’Heym Duggar, Christopher Whitehead, and Tarek Collins on Oct. 20, 2023, at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Manchester working again Corey Holland falls after being tackled on Oct. 20, 2023, at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Manchester quarterback Landen Abernethy throws the ball on Oct. 20, 2023, at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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L.C. Bird head coach Troy Taylor on Oct. 20, 2023, at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Manchester tight finish Makai Byerson scores a landing on Oct. 20, 2023, at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
