Big-play first half buoys Defiance in Senior Day win

Defiance held off a second-half comeback by Manchester to win 24-21 on a blustery Saturday afternoon at Justin F. Coressel Stadium. The Yellow Jackets picked up their second win in three weeks to improve to 2-7 heading into next week's season finale.

The Basics

• Records: Defiance (2-7, 2-4), Manchester (1-8, 0-6)

• Location: Justin F. Coressel Stadium (Defiance, Ohio)

• Attendance: 402

The Difference

• After Manchester finished a 99-yard touchdown drive to post the game's first points halfway through the first quarter, Defiance's De'Realyst Clark returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown that sparked a 24-point rally.

• Manchester mounted a respectable drive in the second quarter to potentially tie the game at 14-14, but Defiance linebacker Brian Murat picked off Spartans quarterback Eric James at the 2-yard line and ran it back 98 yards for the score. Manchester had nothing to show for a five-minute possession and was one of three interceptions thrown by James.

• Defiance tacked on a field goal as time expired before halftime, which was a 19-yarder by kicker Zeke Sanchez. Those late first-half points turned out to be the difference in the game and sent Defiance into halftime with a 24-7 lead.

• Manchester tailback David Smith found the end zone twice in the third quarter on runs of 13 yards and two yards to shave Defiance's lead to three points with 2:41 left in the third.

• Both sides of the football did their part for Defiance to close out the win despite no second half points. A Defiance fumble deep in their own territory gave Manchester the football at the Jackets' 20-yard line with 14:07 left in the contest, but the defense held the Spartans to a four-and-out to regain possession. After both teams traded punts, the Yellow Jacket offense took over with 8:25 left in the fourth quarter and bled out the remainder of the clock to secure the senior day celebration.

Inside The Numbers

• Defiance held the edge in takeaways, 3-2, while each team converted one of those turnovers into a touchdown.

• Defiance's special teams accounted for 12 points in the contest (kickoff return touchdown, field goal, three points after touchdown).

• Manchester held the edge in total offense by outgaining the Yellow Jackets 426 yards to 344. The Spartans recorded 19 first downs to Defiance's 16.

• Out of Manchester's 222 rushing yards, 202 were by David Smith. Smith scored all three Manchester touchdowns to put him on the brink of a 1,000-yard rushing season (982). He also accounted for the game's longest play of 78 yards during the third quarter. That long dash set up Manchester's final score of the game.

• The Spartans outgained Defiance through the air, 204 yards compared to 167, but not without some trouble. Eric James complete 14-of-24 attempts and was intercepted three times. In addition to Murat's pick-six in the second quarter, V'Sean Palmer and Rigo Villo each intercepted passes from James. Palmer leads Defiance with three interceptions this fall.

• Defiance quarterback Jordan Ambrose completed 13-of-23 passes for 167 yards, 71 of which came on a deep connection with Deyante Fowler in the second quarter. That possession helped set up Defiance's field goal before halftime.

• Ambrose also led Defiance in rushing with 53 yards on the turf followed closely by Cooper Sloan with 50 yards rushing.

• Clark's kick return prowess was a difference-maker for Defiance as the speedster averaged 45 yards per return. He totaled 135 yards on three kickoffs with the help of an 85-yard score. Clark also had four total touches on offense for 52 total yards.

• Thomas Coltrain led the Yellow Jackets with 13 tackles, including a game-high three for loss. The Yellow Jackets had a total of 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage compared to just five negative plays made by the Spartan defensive unit.

Up Next

• Defiance closes the season at rival Bluffton on Saturday, November 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.