Photo Credit: Justin Flor/PrepsKC 
Emporia – In a battle of Class 6A heavyweights, Gardner Edgerton delivered the knockout punch with 10 seconds remaining in Friday’s state championship game at Welch Stadium at Emporia State University.
With the ball resting at the half-yard line and Manhattan leading 33-29, Trailblazer quarterback Bravin Powell took the snap, carried the ball over the right side of his offensive line, dove into the endzone, and scored what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.
In a rematch of the 2022 6A title game, Gardner Edgerton defended its 6A state championship from a year ago. The Blazers handed previously unbeaten, no. 1 Manhattan its only loss of the season, 36-33.
The Indians finished 12-1, falling short of the second perfect season in program history and the school’s fourth state championship.
“It's hard to put into words. Two very good teams going toe to toe, and it kind of came down to who had the ball last,” said Gardner Edgerton Head Coach Jesse Owen. “Our guys made just enough plays to get it done. I’m so very proud of our guys but hats off to Manhattan. Their kids played their hearts out.”
“To be here two years later, with the same type of game coming all the way down to the end, it’s kind of unreal,” said Manhattan Head Coach Joe Schartz.
This championship game featured seven lead changes, and it was the Blazers who grabbed the lead for good. After Gardner Edgerton’s 7-play, 33-yard drive left 10 ticks on the clock, Manhattan had one last chance. A short Blazers’ kickoff gave the Indians the ball at the GE 49-yard line. The Indians had time to run three plays. Their last gasp pass to the endzone from quarterback Carter Aslin to JJ Dunnigan was swatted away as time expired.
“Just going out on top. It’s so special. I mean, I've been with these guys forever. Since we were just little kids. I know all that we sacrificed. Everything was sacrificed to come here and win like that. It just means everything to us,” said Powell, who was the star of the game with 129 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He also passed for 41 yards and two more touchdowns.
Manhattan scored the game’s first points. Aslin took a keeper to the right side and ran into the endzone.
Powell scored the Trailblazers (12-1) first touchdown with a 6-yard run up the middle.
After Manhattan’s Jaydin Hudley scored to make it 12-7 Indians, Aslin ran one in from 20-yards out, and the Indians were up 19-7.
The Blazers answered with Powell finding Lucas Wilson for a 12-yard touchdown. After a long Manhattan drive ended with a turnover on downs, Powell completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to running back Porter Swaim, and GE regained the lead at halftime, 22-19.
The second half was literally back-and-forth. There were four lead changes after halftime.
Manhattan went ahead in the third quarter, but Powell again answered by keeping the ball on a 23-yard touchdown run, finishing off a 9-play, 80-yard marc at the end of the third quarter. It was now 29-26 Blazers.
On to the fourth quarter. On fourth down and 2, Manhattan’s Hudley took off on a tackle-breaking, 33-yard touchdown run. With a little over 10 minutes remaining, the Indians were back on top, 33-29.
After the Blazers turned it over on downs deep in Indian territory, Manhattan took over 1st and 10 at its own 15 with 4:01 remaining. Manhattan ran five plays and was forced to punt from the endzone. The 25-yard punt was spotted at the Manhattan 33 with 1:57 left.
In the 2022 championship game between these two teams, Gardner Edgerton fell just short on a two-point conversion attempt on the game’s final play. Manhattan won the 6A trophy, 21-20.
GE’s Powell wasn’t about to let that happen again.
“Back two years ago, my first appearance here, we go for the two-point conversion and come up short,” recalled Powell. “That hurt, and it still hurts us to this day. We knew we couldn’t let that happen again. We got to give everything and made sure we got it. And that’s all that matters.”
After an 8-yard gain by Richard Vanlerberg and a 3-yard rush by Syre Padilla, Powell called his number the next five plays, ultimately scoring the game-winning TD.
Gardner Edgerton ran the ball 63 times for 397 yards. Manhattan rushed for 272 yards on 26 carries.
“Last year, we were down 13-0 early to Derby and found a way to come back. We've been down in the previous two playoff games at halftime. So, that's not uncharted territory for our guys, and they just have the ability to keep their focus and not get rattled, and not allow the emotions to kind of get them down. They're just tough kids,” said Owen.
“I'm a proud football coach, man.”
