"We're gonna keep playing," Mike Melnyk told his Manheim Township Blue Streaks in the post-game huddle, "until they tell us to stop."
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The Streaks won't soon hear that as they nailed down a first-round home game in the District Three Class AAAA playoffs with a 28-14 victory over Hempfield, Friday night in Landisville.
Brian Sourber gained 241 yards on 34 carries, scored three touchdowns, caught a 16-yard pass and picked two interceptions to lead the Streaks (5-2 L-L Section One, 7-3 overall) back home.
"That's real important to us," he said. "After Wilson (a 35-16 loss in Township's last scheduled home game), we didn't want to end it like that. "
"They were pretty disappointed and they were kind of crying on the field," recounted Melnyk.
"I told them, 'Get off the field. We're coming back home. This isn't going to be your last game on this field.' "
The Streaks will host an opponent to be determined, unofficially Muhlenberg, next Friday night. The pairings and start times will announced tomorrow.
Start time for the Streaks Friday night was 2:22 into the game when Brady Souders intercepted a Mike Farace pass intended for Hansel Akers at the Township 20.
Seven plays later, Souders swept 14 yards to the endzone for the first score of the game.
On the next series Farace's fumble — forced by Moyo Oluleye — was covered at midfield by Eddie Roth. Nine plays later it was Sourber on an Iso from the Razorback, 18 yards and a 14-0 lead.
"We had two turnovers early," noted Knights' coach Bob Forgrave. "It was all ourselves."
The Knights (2-5, 4-6) picked themselves off the deck with a 13-play, 63-yard march late in the first half.
Farace picked up 17 yards on a 4th down keeper and Hempfield gained new life when Souders was called for pass interference on an interception in the endzone.
Spencer Lehr toted a deep option pitch the final yard to make it a 14-7 game at the half.
Sourber returned the second half kickoff 40 yards to midfield and Township caught a break on an ill-advised pass interference penalty on 4th-&-7 at the Knight's 30.
"That was the key," said Knights' coach Bob Forgrave. "That took us out of the game."
Sourber took the next touch 16 yards to paydirt and added a 3-yard score early in the fourth quarter to make it 28-7.
Lehr's 3-yard score capped a 66-yard march that took 4:07 off the clock. With 6:12 left, Hempfield eschewed the onsides kick, and didn't get the ball back until there was 1:39 left.
Sourber's second pick officially ended Hempfield season.
"These kids are better than 4-6," Forgrave declared. "I'm proud of them, of what they've done. They deserve better than what they got."
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