HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Manningham's TD return gives Harding victory over Glenville

His 50-yard interception touchdown in the final minute led to a 30-26 win.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WARREN -- They don't call him "Super Mario" for nothing.
At a school that has featured many outstanding athletes, including All-American Maurice Clarett, Mario Manningham turned in one of the most exciting performances in Warren Harding High football history Saturday against Cleveland Glenville.
With 1 minute, 9 seconds remaining and Harding out of timeouts, Manningham intercepted a Glenville pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to give the Raiders a stunning 30-26 victory at Mollenkopf Stadium.
Scored four touchdowns
It was Manningham's fourth big play of the game, all resulting in touchdowns.
"It was one of the greatest games I've been involved with in all my years of coaching," Harding coach Thom McDaniels said.
The Raiders looked to be all but dead early in the fourth quarter when Glenville held a 26-17 lead.
Glenville drove 11 plays to Harding's 3-yard line, but the Raiders held on fourth down at the 1.
After a 5-yard penalty pushed the ball to the 6, Harding quarterback Roger Matlock, who also played in a key role in the goal-line stop, found a streaking Manningham down the sideline for a 94-yard touchdown.
Late in the game, Harding was forced to punt with 1:40 remaining. Three plays later, Manningham made his magical theft.
"I just saw the ball coming, and I just wanted to catch it," said Manningham, who raced untouched for his fourth score to grab the victory.
Harding's Preston Kelson sealed the win in the waning seconds with a diving interception.
"These were two great teams playing tonight," McDaniels said, "but ultimately the best team won."
Raiders score first
The Raiders got on the board first when Matlock hit Manningham over the middle, and the senior broke several tackles and raced 66 yards for a touchdown.
Glenville came right back by marching 80 yards in 17 plays.
Working out of the shotgun, quarterback Arvell Nelson connected on 6-of-9 passes for 73 yards before Tim Conner scored on a 5-yard run. Harding led 7-6 when Glenville's conversion kick failed.
Harding's Omar Omar kicked a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter, and after the Raiders' defense forced a punt, Matlock and Manningham connected on a 50-yard scoring play for a 17-6 advantage.
The lead was short-lived as Glenville struck twice in a matter of minutes.
Glenville marched 65 yards in six plays and scored on a 1-yard run by Conner.
On Harding's next series, punter Karime Thoma was tackled by Glenville's Curtis Smith on the Raiders' 6-yard line.
Two plays later, Nelson passed 9 yards to Robert Rose to give the Tarblooders an 18-17 lead at halftime.