MALTA — Malta capped a perfect season and won its first Class B football championship in 18 years Saturday with a 13-8 victory over Manhattan.
In a low-scoring affair, Malta took a 7-0 lead into halftime thanks to a short touchdown run by Blaine Downing. But the lead didn't last long after halftime.
Manhattan jumped ahead in the third quarter on a touchdown pass from Michael Stewart to Brayden Zikmund, and then Stewart flipped a pass to George Stenberg for a two-point conversion and the Tigers had an 8-7 lead.
The Mustangs, though, responded in the fourth quarter as Stockton Oxarart tossed a touchdown pass to Treyton Wilke. An ensuing two-point try was no good, but Malta was back in front 13-8.
Then, with the game on the line and Manhattan facing fourth-and-goal play from the Malta 9-yard line, Dawson Hammond intercepted a Stewart pass and the Mustangs sealed the victory.
The win marks Malta's first championship since 2006, and stands as the fourth title in program history. The Mustangs finished with a 13-0 record; Manhattan ended the season at 12-1.
