Tech cannot capitalize in Manchester

MANCHESTER – Young teams need to learn how to win and how to lose.Friday night at Manchester Essex, Tech got a lesson in losing, dropping their road game, 22-6 to the Hornets.Tech6Manchester-Essex22 The Tigers (2-2) were unable to capitalize in the first half on three turnovers (two fumble recoveries and one interception) and their offense sputtered in the second half.”My team is young, and when adversity faces them early it is very difficult for them to bounce back,” said Tech coach James Runner.”Unfortunately those are the things you are going to face with a young group.”From the start it seemed as though Tech was destined to create their opportunities. On the first play from scrimmage, Manchester Essex took a sweep right for 18 yards only to see all of the hard running be undone by being stripped of the ball. Francisco Santos came up with the ball for Tech.However the Tigers offense was unable to capitalize on the turnover.After the teams traded possessions, the Hornets put together a six-play drive resulting in a Alex Carr touchdown run to put Manchester Essex 6-0.On their ensuing possession, the Tigers not only faced a deficit on the scoreboard, but also were looking at a long third and 13 from their own 42-yard line. Enter Kennedy Gomes and Richie Warren.Gomes dropped back to pass and hurled a 25-yard pass down the middle of the field.Seemingly it was too high, but a double teamed Warren was still able to leap, make a one handed catch, come down with the ball in stride and run the remaining 33 yards to complete a spectacular 58-yard touchdown. The play tied the score at six.Later in the second quarter Tech seemingly took the lead on a Pedro Martinez 6-yard touchdown run.However the score was called back as the Tigers were called for holding.The penalty stunted the momentum of the drive and it would be the last time Tech came close to the endzone.The score stayed knotted at six until the fourth quarter.The Hornets were able to string together designed rushing plays and quarterback rushes out of broken pass plays to move the ball downfield.Manchester Essex capitalized on two Tech turnoevers and three three-and-out offensive series to take hold of the game.”(Manchester Essex) kept their defensive ends wide. They know we like to run out there,” said Runner.”It made it difficult for us to run out there.”We had to stay within the tackles,” Runner said.For Tech, Gomes finished the game with six completions for 99 yards and added another 68 yards rushing.