MANTI—There was painfully little to be optimistic about for the Templars as they walked off the field last Friday.
The Manti High football team fell victim to an offensive clinic as they were shut out at home, 42-0, by the visiting Morgan Trojans.
The 42-point blowout was the worst loss by Manti since losing 56-14 to Pine View in 2017, and the first shutout loss since losing, 28-0, to Summit Academy in 2017.
Manti has never lost by more than 42 points in Coach Cole Meacham’s entire 25-year tenure with the Templars. It is the third instance by Manti in that same span of time losing by exactly 42 points.
To make matters worse, starting junior quarterback Kayson Douglas suffered an undisclosed injury in the second quarter after a Morgan defender sacked him in the backfield and landed directly on top of him. Junior Larsen Pogroszewski took over at quarterback for the remainder of the game.
Meacham was not able to comment on the game or give any update on Douglas’ status at press time.
Manti’s defense was attacked in every way imaginable as the Trojans hung 389 total yards on them, 249 of them by air with four touchdowns, while looking every bit like the championship contenders from 2020.
Prior to the start, Manti’s drill team took the field for the national anthem with a ceremonial display of 13 American flags in remembrance of the 13 U.S. Marines killed in Afghanistan by a bombing on Aug. 26, while the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country was in motion.
Manti’s record moved to 1-3 overall, marking the second consecutive season of starting 1-3. With their non-region slate wrapped up, the Templars should have an easier time with Carbon this Friday.
