Manhattan High spent so much of Tuesday night on the cusp of a blowout. The Indians recorded just one goal in the first half, a converted penalty kick from senior Hunter French, but they tallied 12 shots — a slew of missed opportunities against Wichita Northwest.

Wichita South had a throw-in during the first half of Manhattan’s 7-1 win Monday evening at Bishop Stadium. As the Titans set up a play to get the ball in, seniors Hunter French, who scored five goals, and Carter Wiens got into position.

Tony Ingram handed out note cards to his Manhattan High varsity tennis players at dinner Saturday evening. The team, which just won a regional championship in Topeka that evening, was familiar with those note cards, which meant something to them specifically.

Hours before he trotted onto the field at Bishop Stadium Friday night to attempt a game-winning field goal against Junction City, Manhattan sophomore kicker Grant Snowden spent the day practicing his steps. His routine. He wouldn’t do this on a normal Friday, but heck — this was the Junction…

The disappointment in Randall Zimmerman’s voice was evident following Junction City’s last-second loss at Manhattan on Friday. To lose to arch-rival Manhattan High is never easy; that his team — which entered Friday undefeated at 5-0 and ranked No. 5 in Class 6A — did itself no favors made i…

The nippy night in Hiawatha didn’t bother Wamego High’s football team. The Red Raiders were white hot, taking a 49-6 victory Friday night.

Standing on the field at Bishop Stadium after Thursday’s game, Hunter French while trying to figure out how many career goals he had for Manhattan High. The Indians (6-5) were fresh off a 5-1 win over Topeka High and French, a senior, recorded a hat trick to claim the all-time scoring record…

Manhattan has its toughest test ahead in Junction City. It’s the rivalry game for the Indians, and they want redemption from a 9-7 loss to the Blue Jays in 2018. A win also would create a tie at the top of the Centennial League, and Manhattan always wants to be in contention — and preferably…

Junction City has one of the best offenses around. And stopping the Blue Jays entirely, Manhattan head coach Joe Schartz said, isn’t probable.

Jasmine Johnson charged through her teammates and dove through chairs on the sideline. Ruth Schinstock nearly sprinted half the distance of the gymnasium, from the middle to the outside wall. Alyx Glessner lunged into the bleachers.

Tony Ingram walked onto the court before his No. 1 doubles tandem of seniors Joanna Park and Kira Schartz played the top team from Seaman High in the championship match of a Centennial League tournament at Topeka High on Monday. Manhattan won the tournament, and this was the marquee matchup.

An improved short-game, some confidence and practicing until it’s dark outside made a difference for the Manhattan girls golf team in its second-place finish with a score of 371 at the school’s invitational at Stagg Hill Golf Club on Monday.

WAMEGO — The track at the USD 320 Sports Complex officially was renamed “Rick Patton Track” during halftime of Friday’s homecoming football game.

JUNCTION CITY —Junction City High improved to 5-0 in dominating fashion Friday.

RANDOLPH — Long before Blue Valley-Randolph coach Matt Schreiber guided his team into a home matchup with Frankfort Friday night, he knew what to expect from the Wildcats.

EMPORIA — Joe Schartz handed out plenty of high-fives and chest-bumps Friday evening. The Manhattan High head coach had good reason, too. The Indians thrashed the Emporia Spartans, 35-12, at Welch Stadium at Emporia State University.

WAMEGO — In the immediate aftermath, Weston Moody couldn’t think of a single positive to take out of Friday’s game. For more than 43 minutes of game time Friday night, Moody’s Wamego team either led or stood even with Marysville, the No. 1 team in Class 3A.

I’m so tired of losing.

Manhattan High has the benefit of practicing against itself. When the Indians scrimmage against their own dominant line and run game, its about as accurate as it can be to playing a team like Emporia. Manhattan plays Emporia at Welch Stadium at Emporia State University Friday night. 

Take a step.

The Manhattan girls tennis team came away with another first-place finish Tuesday at the Topeka West Invitational. Senior Kira Schartz made her return for the Indians and freshman Jillian Harkin (23-0) continued to boost her reputation as a singles force in the state.

The Manhattan girls tennis team is carrying momentum into October.

The Manhattan High girls golf team isn’t exactly where it wants to be yet. The Indians were a mere four strokes out of second place in the Centennial League tournament at Manhattan Country Club Monday afternoon. The team placed third with a score of 382. Seaman High took second with 379, and…

FLUSH — If Shane Sieben didn’t preach humility or value relationships or use both of those traits to establish himself as a winner in the Rock Creek sports scene, perhaps you would be tempted to doubt one trope he’s been returning to as his first season as head football coach marches on.

A swarm of Washburn Rural defenders met Manhattan High running back BJ Young after he broke through the line of scrimmage in the third quarter of Friday night’s game at Bishop Stadium.

Carter Wiens was doing all he could to prevent Washburn Rural from scoring another goal in Manhattan’s 3-1 loss Thursday evening.

Jacob Hirschey let his actions do the talking against Seaman last Friday. A senior defensive back for Manhattan High, Hirschey picked off a pass in a first half that was primarily a back-and-forth tussle between the offenses.

The Manhattan High football team has juggled personnel in practices the last few weeks. Whether it be injuries or allergies, head coach Joe Schartz and the Indians have struggled to get any sort of consistency with the same group of players when running drills or working out the kinks.

Manhattan High’s volleyball team needed to regroup after dropping the second set to Concordia in the last of three matches at a quad hosted by the Indians that also included Topeka High and Topeka West on Tuesday.

It’s deep enough into the tennis season for Manhattan High’s girl’s tennis coach Tony Ingram to consider how his No. 1 singles player, Jillian Harkin, a freshman, is different than her peers.