Everyone loves a rematch. College basketball fans got a great rematch with Duke vs UNLV, 1990 and 1991, UNLV got the first one, but Duke won the rematch. Growing up in Denver, it was Cleveland vs Denver, 1985 and 1986. Denver went to Cleveland and won the AFC Title Game after John Elway completed “The Drive”, a 99-yard game tying touchdown drive in the games final minutes. A year later it was the rematch, a game Denver won after “The Fumble” secured Denver the ball and a chance to run the clock out. Tuesday, right here in Reno, we will get a championship rematch, and we will see the clock run out for one team’s championship aspirations when Bishop Manogue and Faith Lutheran take the field at McQueen High School.
Bishop Manogue Head Coach, Earnie Howren, knows all about state title games, this will be his seventh as head coach. Last year, Howren led his Miners to the 5A II state title game and the Miners were able to secure the school’s first football title since 2003; it was Coach Howren’s first state title.
Faith Lutheran comes in ranked fourth in the state with an impressive 11-0 record. Faith is led by senior quarterback Alexander Rogers who has thrown for 2198 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. Rogers will challenge Bishop Manogue’s secondary while also having to account for Bishop Manogue’s aggressive pass rush which has 28 sacks this season. Faith’s run game is powered by physical senior running back Cale Breslin. In seven games this season Breslin is averaging 104 yards per game with 11 touchdowns.
Keeping the Faith coaches awake has to be the specter of trying to slow down Bishop Manogue’s potent offense. Manogue is averaging 36 points per game while boasting a powerful one-two punch with senior quarterback Brandon Mann and senior running back Pele Masina. Mann has thrown for 2324 yards this season with 31 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Masina has rushed for 1018 this season along with 14 touchdowns. Manogue’s offense is well balanced and will challenge Faith’s defense which has allowed just 12.6 points per game this season.
Bishop Manogue’s path to a second straight championship game started well with two wins before dropping three straight to strong California programs. Entering league play at 2-3, some may have whispered that Manogue was vulnerable, or that the gap between them and the rest of the 5A II North had shrunk, but Manogue would have none of that. They have won seven in a row and went undefeated in 5A II league play. In the playoffs Bishop Manogue defeated Reno and Reed and now look to secure back-to-back state titles in football.
Faith’s path has been a high school football players dream scenario: an undefeated regular season, a league title, and the 5A II Southern Title. Four quarters of football at McQueen stand between Faith and finishing out that dream scenario with a state title.
It is a rematch and we will either see Coach Howren and the Miners secure back-to-back titles or we will see Crusaders Head Coach Mike Sanford and his Crusaders leave Reno with the 5A II title.
5A II STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Bishop Manogue Miners, 9-3, ranked 6th, Northern 5A II Champions
Faith Lutheran Crusaders, 11-0, ranked 4th, Southern 5A II Champions
McQueen High School
1:30 PM, Tuesday, November 26th
Get tickets in advance from the NIAA website
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