EMPORIA – The tape around Bravin Powell’s right hand resembled the wraps used by boxers under their gloves to compress the bones in their hands for a fight.
Only Powell’s wrap was protecting what he feared was a broken hand sustained in the closing minutes of the Class 6A football championship game Friday at Welch Stadium.
Powell, Gardner Edgerton’s senior quarterback, was injured during the most crucial drive of the Trailblazers’ season. But with the defending 6A champions trailing Manhattan by four points and time of the essence, he wasn’t coming off the field.
Instead, Powell carried the ball on the Trailblazers’ final five offensive plays, including a 1-yard plunge behind an unbalanced line with 10 seconds remaining. Powell’s touchdown gave Gardner Edgerton a 36-33 victory in a scintillating sequel to the teams’ double-overtime thriller that Manhattan won to claim the 6A title two years ago.
“We knew that they were going to throw punches, but it was going to be last man standing,” said Powell, who ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns, and added two touchdown passes on his only completions. “We were the last man standing. We threw our punches and got the KO in the end.”
Gardner Edgerton quarterback Bravin Powell hoists the Class 6A championship trophy on Friday.
Gardner Edgerton won its second consecutive state championship by a margin that matched its 22-19 title-game victory over Derby on a snowy Saturday last November. Friday’s victory wasn’t secured, however, until Blazer defenders Penn McCall and Briggs Cunningham broke up a Hail Mary pass intended for Manhattan’s JJ Dunnigan near the goal line on the game’s final play.
The pass deflection occurred just a few yards from the spot where former Gardner Edgerton halfback Dylan Butash was stopped on a two-point conversion attempt on the final play of Manhattan’s 21-20 victory in the 2022 state final.
“I saw it coming and it was in slow motion, I’m not going to lie,” Cunningham said of Manhattan quarterback Carter Aslin’s pass from the Gardner Edgerton 35. “I went up and knocked it down. The amount of joy that came to me right after that … it lit up a smile and tears started coming down. It was awesome.”
The Trailblazers’ final stop preserved a successful second chance for Powell and Gardner Edgerton’s offense. In a game that featured 799 yards of total offense and seven lead changes, the Trailblazers needed some good fortune after Powell overthrew fellow senior Tim Chartier in the end zone with 4:01 remaining and Manhattan leading 33-29.
“That was on me,” Powell said of his fourth-and-4 attempt from the Manhattan 15 that halted a 12-play drive. “I missed that throw. I just knew my defense was going to have my back. We all have each other’s backs.
“I made a mistake, but I knew once we got it back, that was the nail in the coffin.”
Gardner Edgerton's Briggs Cunningham (1) and Penn McCall (28) break up a pass to Manhattan's JJ Dunnigan on the final play.
Needing a couple first downs to burn off the remaining time, Manhattan, which scored on two previous second-half possessions, was unable to get one. The Indians were called for holding on a third-and-7 run by Aslin that would have moved the chains.
“We picked it up, but had an unfortunate holding call,” Manhattan coach Joe Schartz said. “It was just very unfortunate to have that call at that moment.”
Gardner Edgerton got the ball at the Manhattan 33 with 1:57 remaining after a 25-yard punt by Gabe Summerlin.
“Just being down, having to get back up is normal for us,” said Gardner Edgerton junior Syre Padilla, who ran for 180 yards on 24 carries. “It was a little bit hard to stay up, but with our quarterback, he’s such a great leader. Bravin told us to keep our faith, have undeniable faith and God will make it happen.”
Gardner Edgerton's Charlie Drinkard (38) pressures Manhattan quarterback Carter Aslin on a play the Indians' Garrison Vikander, left was called for holding.
The Trailblazers were no strangers to games hanging in the balance. They trailed in playoff victories over Blue Valley Northwest and Blue Valley West, and split close regular-season games against Shawnee Mission Northwest and Mill Valley.
Those encounters, coupled with nail-biting state championship games the previous two seasons, armed Gardner Edgerton with confidence and calmness.
On Friday, the Trailblazers dug themselves out of a 19-7 first-half hole with Powell’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Lucas Wilson and 29-yard scoring strike to Porter Swaim.
“The senior class, over their three years they’ve kind of been programmed to be in games like this,” Gardner Edgerton coach Jesse Owen said. “Last year we were down 13-0 early to Derby and found a way to come back. We were down in the previous two playoff games at halftime.
“That’s not uncharted territory for our guys, and they just have the ability to keep their focus, not get rattled and not allow the emotions to get them down.”
Manhattan's Jaydin Hudley looks for an opening on a running play. Hudley finiished with 184 yards and two touchdowns.
Powell showed no visible signs of his hand injury. But on the first play of the game-winning drive, he was tackled from behind by Manhattan’s Garrison Vikander while making an option pitch and sprawled forward, landing awkwardly with his right hand planted on the turf.
By then, the Trailblazers were on the move. Richard Vanlerberg picked up eight yards on the option, then Padilla’s 3-yard run was enhanced by a face-mask penalty on Manhattan that moved the ball to the Indians’ 11.
The clock continued to move as Powell had runs of 4, 5 and 1 yard to give Gardner Edgerton first and goal from the 1. After Powell was stopped for no gain on first down, he followed Padilla outside the right tackle gap and into the end zone on second down to give the Blazers the lead.
“At the beginning of the last drive, I just felt it break,” Powell said of his hand. “I started to try to move it and I just felt the two bones separated.
“That was hard. I was just making sure I secured the ball. That was the biggest thing, just securing it.”
The physical game took a toll on both quarterbacks. Aslin was sidelined late in the first half on a sack by Gardner Edgerton’s Hayden Schulz. Aslin’s helmet was knocked off and his face was bloodied on the hit, but he returned to the game in the third quarter.
“He’s a warrior,” Schartz said. “Every team has been trying to knock him out the entire season. He just keeps coming back.”
Gardner Edgerton's Syre Padilla (20) tries to elude a Manhattan defender on a long run Friday.
Aslin and Hudley were instrumental in helping Manhattan build its first-half lead. Aslin capped the Indians’ opening drive with a 12-yard touchdown run. After Powell countered with a 6-yard scoring run, Manhattan regained the lead at 12-7 on a 61-yard run by Hudley.
Aslin stretched the Indians’ lead to 19-7 with a 20-yard run on a keeper to the left side. But Gardner Edgerton erased the deficit before halftime on Powell’s touchdown passes.
“He’s our leader,” Owen said. “He’s a positive kid. He has great character. He influences others and they’re better because of him, and that’s what a leader does.”
With Powell at the controls, Gardner Edgerton rolled up 438 yards with its flexbone offense. The Trailblazers ran 68 plays to Manhattan’s 39 and nearly doubled the Indians in time of possession.
But the second half felt like two teams trying to hold serve.
Gardner Edgerton started the third quarter trying to build on its 22-19 halftime lead. The Trailblazers burned more than six minutes, but turned the ball over on downs at Manhattan’s 21.
The Indians took the lead at 26-22 on a 24-yard pass from Aslin to Dunnigan. Gardner Edgerton countered with an 8-play, 80-yard drive capped by Powell’s 23-yard touchdown on a quarterback counter.
Manhattan took its final lead with 10:22 remaining in the game. Facing fourth-and-2 from the Blazers 33, Hudley took an option pitch from Aslin all the way into the end zone. Rylan Vikander’s extra point put the Indians up 33-29.
In Manhattan’s championship victory over Gardner Edgerton two years ago, the Indians turned away the Trailblazers on a 13-play drive in the second half. Their stop of Gardner Edgerton’s 12-play drive on Friday conjured memories of that. But in the end, the final result was different.
After Powell’s go-ahead touchdown, Manhattan recovered a short kickoff just inside Gardner Edgerton territory. Aslin completed a 14-yard out route to Dunnigan to move the ball to the Blazers 35. An incompletion on the following play left time for a Hail Mary.
Dunnigan, one of Manhattan’s two-way standouts, sprinted to the end zone and tried to high point Aslin’s pass. While McCall defended Dunnigan from behind, Cunningham got a hand inside the receiver’s arms and knocked the ball away.
Gardner Edgerton players stormed the field to begin their celebration.
“Exact same scenario just down to the end,” Schartz said as he pondered the fierce competitiveness of both title games. “Just battling and battling. One time we were able to come out on top and one time they were able to come out on top.
“Just credit to both teams and both coaching staffs getting their programs ready to go and play this type of championship game.”
Owen also credited Manhattan for its performance and making the teams’ second championship meeting as memorable as the first. As he began reflecting on his own team and its resilience, tears started to flow.
“That’s something we emphasize quite a bit in practice and our kids are very receptive,” Owen said. “They’re tough kids. I’m a proud football coach, man.”
Gardner Edgerton's Richard Vanlerberg (15) jumps into teammate Lucas Wilson's arms after the final play Friday.
CLASS 6A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
GARDNER EDGERTON 36, MANHATTAN 33
Gardner Edgerton (12-1) … 7 … 15 … 7 … 7 … – … 36
Manhattan (12-1) … 12 … 7 … 7 … 7 … – … 33
Manhattan – Carter Aslin 12-yard run (kick blocked)
Gardner Edgerton – Bravin Powell 6-yard run (Jensen Honey kick)
Manhattan – Jaydin Hudley 61-yard run (run failed)
Manhattan – Aslin 20-yard run (Rylan Vikander kick)
Gardner Edgerton – Lucas Wilson 12-yard pass from Powell (Honey kick)
Gardner Edgerton – Porter Swaim 29-yard pass from Powell (Powell run)
Manhattan – JJ Dunnigan 24-yard pass from Aslin (Vikander kick)
Gardner Edgerton – Powell 23-yard run (Honey kick)
Manhattan – Hudley 33-yard run (Vikander kick)
Gardner Edgerton – Powell 1-yard run (Honey kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
… GE … MAN
First downs … 24 … 17
Rushes-yards … 63-397 … 26-272
Passing yards … 41 … 89
Passing (Comp-Att-INT) … 2-5-0 … 8-13-0
Total plays-yards … 68-438 … 39-361
Fumbles-lost … 2-0 … 2-0
Penalties-yards … 5-55 … 6-49
Punts-Avg … 2-29.5 … 2-37.5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Gardner Edgerton: Padilla 24-180, Powell 28-129, Swaim 5-66, Vanlerberg 6-22. Manhattan: Hudley 12-184, Aslin 13-89, Team 1-minus 1.
PASSING – Gardner Edgerton: Powell 2-5-0, 41 yards. Manhattan: Aslin 7-11-0, 87 yards; Watson 1-2-0, 2 yards.
RECEIVING – Gardner Edgerton: Swaim 1-29, Wilson 1-12. Manhattan: Dunnigan 4-51, Hudley 2-19, Vikander 1-13, Summerlin 1-6.