Douglas comes back to defeat Manogue

MINDEN — Ryland DeSomber’s red-zone interception in the third quarter turned the tide for the Douglas High football team Friday night. Then Hunter Hickey and Will Williams ran for touchdowns that lifted the Tigers to a 32-28 Homecoming victory against Bishop Manogue.

Manogue held a 28-17 lead and was in position to score again before DeSomber intercepted a pass over the middle with 2:08 left in the third quarter. Two plays later, Hickey took a quarterback keeper 88 yards for a touchdown and Williams scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 5-yard sweep in the fourth quarter as Douglas rallied to win the Sierra League opener at Keith Roman Field.

Douglas (1-0 league, 3-3 overall) put the game away inside the final three minutes after Haydn Brown recovered a fumble to stop a drive by Manogue (0-1, 3-3) at the Tigers’ 37.

The turnover was the third of the night for the Miners, who also gave the ball up on an errant snap from punt formation in the fourth quarter. Each of those four plays would prove to be critical for Manogue.

The Tigers got the ball on the 18 after the failed punt attempt and they ran the ball on seven straight plays, capped by Williams’ touchdown sweep.

Manogue had an 11-point lead and was in position to take control of the game after Hunter Gates recovered a fumble near midfield in the third quarter. The Miners drove to the 11 until a third-and-7 play action pass to the end zone was picked off by DeSomber.

Dawson Coman scored on a 70-yard run in the first quarter to give Douglas a 7-0 lead and DeSomber scored on a 5-yard run to tie the score at 14-all in the second quarter.

Manogue scored on a 58-yard pass from quarterback Lincoln Hauck to Daunte Garrett as time expired at the end of the first quarter. Dontell Jackson scored on a 52-yard run and Hauck scored on a 60-yard run as the Miners took a 21-14 lead.

Manogue had another scoring opportunity end shortly before halftime when Reagan Roberson recovered a fumble at the 24 with 1:08 showing on the clock.

The Tigers drove to the 5 before Josh Gurule kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired.