COLUMBUS — Manhattan was nearly perfect in every phase of the game on Saturday night, as the Tigers blew out Southern B football foe Columbus, 58-6, to improve to a perfect 5-0 on the season.
The Tigers opened up the game with a methodical march down the field punctuated by a 1-yard touchdown run by Caden Holgate. Columbus looked primed to answer with a score of its own, but Caden Meier was intercepted by Corban Johnson at the goal line.
Manhattan would quickly turn it into points. Toby Veltkamp plunged into the end zone from 2 yards out to give Manhattan a 16-0 lead early in the second quarter. Johnson, who would have two first-half interceptions, then showed his ball skills offensively. Holgate threw a jump ball up to Johnson along the left sideline and Johnson snatched the ball from above the defender before jogging in for six more. Isaac Richardson added a 3-yard touchdown run for the Tigers to push the lead to 28-0 with 2:33 left in the first half.
"(Holgate) is just getting better every week. He sees the field well and does a great job of commanding the offense," Manhattan head coach Chris Grabowska said. "It's nice to be balanced, but it's nice when you go deep in the playoffs and the weather gets colder that you have that run game."
Columbus would get on the scoreboard, as Meier escaped the pocked and found Cooper Cook all alone behind the defense for a 50-yard touchdown, but the Cougars couldn't find pay dirt again.
Johnson would score a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, as he hauled in another long toss from Holgate before picking off his third pass of the night and taking it back for a touchdown as the third quarter horn sounded. Sandwiched between Johnson's scores was a Veltkamp 46-yard scamper.
"Our defense has been the strong point of our team for a few seasons. Our kids love playing defenses. It's a mentality," Grabowska said. "The offense is doing a good job of complimenting the defense this year."
Manhattan will put its unbeaten record on the line in Week 7 at Big Timber, while Columbus will be fighting for its playoff life against Whitehall.
Class B football scores
Florence 35, Eureka 20
Glasgow 54, Colstrip 6
Huntley Project 40, Baker 8
Manhattan 58, Columbus 6
Townsend 44, Three Forks 0
Whitehall 13, Jefferson 7
