RENO - The Yellow Brick Wall now has its share of holes.
Galena High's football team came into Saturday's key High Desert League contest with arguably the Northern 4A's top defense, but Manogue exposed the Grizzlies throughout the game and went on to a 35-20 win on Saturday at home.
Galena (6-2, 4-1) and Manogue (7-1, 4-1) are now tied for second in the High Desert League behind Reed (5-0). The Grizzlies host Reed on Thursday while the Miners finish with McQueen (3-2).
The Grizzlies can still earn the No. 1 seed into the Northern 4A playoffs with a win over Reed, but could fall all the way to No. 4 if they lose and McQueen beats Manogue.
In that scenario, McQueen, Galena and Manogue could all end up in a tie for second at 4-2, with the tiebreaker coming down to point differential between the three teams.
Galena coach Steve Struzyk didn't want to participate in any of the fallout of the loss as he was unavailable for comment, leading his team directly to the bus after the game.
Manogue coach Paul Mills said there was no magic elixir to his team's offensive success. "We do what we do," he said. "The kids played hard."
When asked if he was surprised with his team's offensive success, Mills said, "I'm happy about it. We knew we could do something."
It figured that both teams would rely heavily on their running games. But both team's quarterbacks, Galena's Jacob Anderson and Manogue's Ray Barrett had huge games.
Anderson was 12-of-22 for 150 yards and two touchdowns while Barrett was 10-of-13 for 153 yards and three scores.
When asked if he was surprised with his team's passing success, Mills said, "I know Galena was 6-for-6 in the first half," said Mills, commenting on Anderson completing his first six passes.
"These teams have pretty well established themselves in the running game," Mills said. "I know it was entertaining. It was a little high on the blood pressure."
Galena looked to have a drive going to open the game when Anderson completed a 26-yard pass to Steven Blackhart, but the drive stalled. Pete Tomaino recovered a Manogue fumble at the Miner 45-yard line on Manogue's ensuing possession.
On the strength of two passes for 29 yards from Anderson Jason Parkinson, the Grizzlies drove down to the four. But Anderson was sacked back at the 10 and Christopher Ewald missed a field goal just wide right from 27 yards.
On the next play, Manogue's Josh Dupree ran 80 yards for a score to give Manogue a 7-0 lead. Galena responded on a 15-yard scoring pass from Anderson to Tomaino and Ewald kicked the extra point to make it 7-7.
Galena had Manogue stopped on its next drive, but was offsides on fourth and two when Manogue punted, giving the Miners another chance. Manogue took advantage when Barrett completed a 17-yard TD pass to Paul Vassallo to make it 14-7.
The Grizzlies responded on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Anderson to Jesse Snodgrass and Ewald added the point to make it 14-14.
But with 16 seconds left in the first half, Barrett hooked up with Christopher Burries on a five-yard scoring pass for a 21-14 halftime lead.
Galena opened with second half with an impressive drive. Key plays were a 19-yard screen pass from Anderson to Jake Hess, a 36-yard run by Jimmy Sargent and Pete Lazzari's 15-yard run. That set up Sargent's 10-yard scoring run.
But the normally reliable Ewald missed wide right on the extra point, leaving the score 21-20. Ewald did kick for three touchdbacks on his kickoffs and his other kickoff allowed Galena's coverage to pin Manogue inside its 10.
Manogue responded on on Barrett's 11-yard scoring run to make it 28-20. Travis Gibson recovered a fumble at the Galena 16 to stop Manogue's next drive, but the Grizzlies had to punt the ball away.
Cameron Bozarth returned the punt 35 yards to the Galena 20. That set up a five-yard TD pass from Barrett to Gurries to make it 35-20.
Galena received new life late in the fourth quarter when it recovered a fumble at midfield. Anderson kept the drive alive by scrambling for 13 yards on fourth and 13 to the Manogue 40. But Gurries intercepted a pass deep in Manogue territory.
After Galena held, Anderson completed a 17-yard pass to Sargent. But Gurries picked off Anderson in the end zone in the waning seconds.
Sargent, one of Northern Nevada's top running backs, finished with 147 yards on 24 carries.
"A great football player," said Mills about Sargent. "They've got a great scheme. He's just so quick, has great vision on the field."