Manning’s late pass to Sutherland, defensive stand help Newman beat Booker T. Washington

Arch Manning was facing a season-defining moment. He was having the worst game of his still very young career, having thrown four interceptions and being sacked twice. His team was down 20-19 in the 4^th quarter against Booker T. Washington, marking their first deficit of the night after the Greenie defense had been holding strong.

It was without question the highest pressure situation the freshman has been placed in this year.

With 63 yards to go, Manning trusted the receiver who has helped him be one of the top passers in the Metro area this season. Jarmone Sutherland delivered with the game-winning touchdown catch to lift Newman to a 27-20 win Friday night at Lupin Field.

After driving down to the Lions 37-yard line, Manning saw Sutherland down the middle of the field heading for the end zone having beat his man and let it loose. Sutherland took the ball in at the 5 and strolled into the end zone to get the score and put Newman on top with 5:44 to go.

Head coach Nelson Stewart opted to go for two, and Manning delivered yet again as he found John Charbonnet in the left corner of the end zone to put the Greenies up 27-20.

The two teams then traded punts before Booker T. Washington got the ball back with 48 seconds to go and Kentrell Harris, who had already thrown for 3 touchdowns after overcoming 3 turnovers, faced his own moment of truth. Harris first found Tyreese Johnson to gain 12 yards, giving Johnson 10 catches for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns. Harris completed another pass but his receiver stayed in bounds, forcing head coach Wayne Reese Jr. to call his final timeout.

The junior Harris had just over half the field to go and barely half a minute to go it. He took the ball, looked deep for Johnson, but UVA commit Brandon Williams, the Greenies all-time sack leader, chased Harris down and put him on the dirt for a sack and kept the clock running. Harris managed to get one more throw off deep down the left side that hit Damian Alexander in the hands, but he couldn’t hold on faced with a fight by the Newman defense and the ball hit the ground, giving Newman the win.

It was far from a pretty game. Manning was picked off four times have suffering just one interception in the previous four outings. He finished 19 of 37 for 164 yards while  the Greenies rushing attack put together just 40 yards.

The Newman defense did work on the evening though in recovering 4 fumbles and 2 interceptions. Williams had 2 sacks on the evening to go with a fumble recovery for a touchdown while Will Hardie recorded an interception, recovered his own onside kick and kicked two field goals to help their team to victory. Sutherland finished with 9 catches for 102 yards 2 touchdowns and an interception on defense.

The Lions couldn’t overcome 6 first half turnovers and 14 penalties on the night, giving the win to Manning, the Newman defense the Greenie special teams.