By MARK ADKINS

sports@messengernews.net

MANSON — Zach Noffsinger stood near midfield at Manson Northwest Webster’s Keith Hart Athletic Complex on Friday night.

He had the gaze of someone searching for something.

“I’ve got to admit I’m a little bit at a loss for words,” the Cougars head coach said after his Class 1A, District 2 champions dropped a 14-12 heartbreaker to Lawton-Bronson in an opening round playoff clash.

“I’m so proud of where our guys got to after starting 0-2,” he reflected with tears in his eyes. “This group came together, bought in, and fought together to get us a district championship when many would have figured it would not happen after some of the athletes we had graduated from that memorable 2024 team.

“They never stopped — just kept battling each week,” he added. “I love these guys and this team so much. It is tough to see the season end.”

The visiting Eagles managed to stop the Cougars on downs four times in the second 24 minutes.

Manson Northwest Webster got inside the visiting 30-yard-line twice with nothing to show and then were held near midfield on the other two offensive attempts that looked like points when they started.

“We just couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities we had,” Noffsinger said. “I have to give credit to Lawton-Bronson.

“They made the big plays when they needed them tonight.”

Junior quarterback Coy Moline added to the rising star junior season he produced for the Cougars.

He carried the ball 27 times for 137 yards, registering both touchdowns to the delight of the home crowd, and picked off a Lawton-Bronson pass attempt.

His ground totals were part of another strong total rushing attack for the Cougars who rolled up 269 yards on 43 carries.

Manson Northwest Webster held a 6-0 lead when Moline glided 16 yards down the left side of the line and bolted to the middle for the touchdown in the initial stages of the second period.

However, the extra point failed on a low snap. Lawton-Bronson answered right back, as senior running back Lane Mitchell picked up the final 20 yards of the drive with the last five totaling the score.

The Eagles upped the lead to 14-6 after holding the Cougars on the 26-yard-line to start the second half, marching 74 yards.

The drive concluding it with junior quarterback Noah Drew finding senior wide receiver Connor Clausen for a 28-yard scoring strike that looked as if it had been picked off initially.

The hosts recovered a fumble in the early moments of the final stanza and hit paydirt with Moline diving in from five yards out. His two-point run attempt was stuffed keeping the score 14-12.

The momentum seemed to totally swing to Manson Northwest Webster after that score.

Lawton-Bronson misplayed the kickoff return with the Cougars recovering on the visitors’ 29-yard line.

Unfortunately for the home fans, the drive netted just four yards and closed at the 25.

Noffsinger’s squad got one more attempt after holding the Eagles to a punt but could not convert from their own 45-yard line.

Drew’s game-winning touchdown pass to Clausen was part of a 102-yard passing night.

He also rushed for 26 yards. Mitchell led the visitors’ ground game with 32 yards on nine carries.

LB MNW

First downs 13 17

Rushes-yds. 22-80 43-269

Passing yds. 102 17

Total yds. 182 286

Return yds. 31 47

Penalties-yds. 6-45 5-45

Fumbles-lost 3-1 3-0

Punts-avg. 2-36.5 0-0

LB 0 7 7 0 — 14

MNW 0 6 0 6 — 12

MNW – Coy Moline 16-yard run (kick failed)

L-B – Lane Mitchell five-yard run (Brandon Lane kick)

L-B – Connor Clausen 23-yard pass from Noah Drew (Lane kick)

MNW – Moline five-yard run (run failed)

Individual statistics

Rushing – L-B: Noah Drew 6-26; Lane Mitchell 9-32; Jaxson Otto 2-3; Landon Grell 3-14; Kallen Goosmann 1-2; Kolson McNear 1-5; MNW: Coy Moline 27-137; Tegan Thoma 5-34; Mason Anderson 6-73; Charlie Sturgis 4-22; Isaiah Daggett 1-(-7).

Passing – L-B: Noah Drew 11-19-1-102; MNW: Isaiah Daggett 5-5-0-17, Coy Moline 0-2-0-0.

Receiving – L-B: Connor Clausen 3-27; Cole Wagner 3-36; Rhett Roth 1-15; Kolson McNear 2-6; Owen Brouwer 1-10; Kallen Goosmann 1-8; MNW: Jack Hoeppner 1-6; Mason Anderson 2-5; Tegan Thoma 1-5; Coy Moline 1-1.