Gardner Edgerton loses 2OT heartbreaker to Manhattan in Kansas 6A state-title game

Playing in the first championship game for football in school history Saturday, Gardner Edgerton came about as close as a team could hope before falling short ... in double-overtime.

The Trailblazers (9-4) held a 14-7 lead late in the game at Welch Stadium on the Emporia State University campus, but Manhattan (13-0) won on a touchdown by senior running back Jason Sanchez in the second OT.

Gardner Edgerton actually scored a subsequent TD that appeared poised to extend the game to a third overtime, but the Trailblazers elected to try a two-point conversion attempt — GE going for the win as opposed to another tie.

Manhattan repelled that attempt, and that was that. Final score: Manhattan 21, Gardner Edgerton 20.

Sanchez was a thorn in the Trailblazers’ side but a hero for Manhattan. His first touchdown Saturday squared up the score at 14-all as the Indians won their first state championship in football since 1988.

Earlier, Gardner Edgerton quarterback Dawson Kindler scored twice on the ground as the Trailblazers took a 14-7 lead that extended well into the final period.

But Sanchez rumbled into the end zone on a 10-yard TD run that set up overtime.

Kindler scored his third touchdown of the afternoon in the second overtime, right before the ill-fated two-point conversion play.