Bengals Hang Tough, But Lose Late to Manchester

Perhaps it was an unfortunate omen from the start of the game.

Before Barnegat got to run a play from scrimmage on Friday night, the Bengals excited the crowd with an electric kick return into Hawks' territory, effectively answering a Manchester touchdown. The only problem was they coughed the ball up and give possession to the Hawks before the play was finished.

It was one of five turnovers for the Bengals, who fell to Manchester 35-21 in a Shore Conference Class B South matchup.

“We really came out and were challenged,” said Barnegat head coach Robert Davis. “You cannot turn the ball over five times against a good team like Manchester and expect to win.”

Especially when the Hawks have a running back like senior Joe Johnson, who ran for 204 yards on 40 carries and three scores. Luckily, Manchester would end up turning the ball over also, ending their early threat to go up by two scores.

Taking over for the Bengals was senior quarterback Mark McCoy and running back David Smithman. McCoy capped off the six-play drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak, the only play Smithman did not touch the ball on the drive. The running back ran the ball 15 times for 105 yards, and carried the ball on a successful two-point conversion play to tie the score at 21 to open the second half. Pat Moran tied the score when his extra point sailed through the uprights to make the score 7-7 in the first quarter.

“I think our offense played hard, and maybe our defense was exposed a bit,” said Davis.

The Bengals' defense struggled to get off the field all game, only getting the Hawks to go three-and-out once. In the second half, things appeared to change slightly and Barnegat found some hope of slowing the Manchester ground game.

“We came out and made some subtle adjustments at halftime,” said Davis, “but it stills comes back to all the turnovers.”

If there was one that hurt more than the others, it would be getting the Hawks to go three-and-out after tying the game at 21 on the last offensive possession, and fumbling the ensuing punt, giving the Hawks the ball on the Bengals' 33. Johnson made quick work of it, going the distance on the next play to give the Hawks the lead back.

Mark McCoy threw for 163 yards on 10-for-17 passing with two touchdowns (one rushing), and two interceptions. Early in the second quarter, the lefty quarterback lofted a perfect pass from 15 yards out into the end zone, meeting the hands of senior receiver Jordan Salt, who was running a fade route. That made it 14-13 Manchester after Pat Moran’s PAT attempt hit the left upright.

Barnegat tied the game on its opening drive of the second half. Smithman ran the ball four times for 26 yards and Matt Schofield picked up the final six and the score. Manchester proceeded to go down to the Barnegat 1, before fumbling on a quarterback sneak.

While the game had all the makings of a shootout, both offenses slowed and cooled down. Manchester made the most of its opportunities, and that became the difference as the Hawks finished the game on a drive that burned nearly eight minutes, as the Bengals could not keep the Hawk offense off the field.

Barnegat will be looking to get it first win of the year next Friday at Central Regional High School.