In a rematch of the 2024 Class B state title game, the Manhattan Tigers got the best of the Malta Mustangs this time around, taking down the reigning state champs 12-7 with a fourth-quarter touchdown toss from Tyson Pavlik to Matthew Fenno.

DJ Bauer
SWX Local Sports Reporter

MANHATTAN, Mont. — The Manhattan Tigers are semifinal-bound after avenging last year’s Class B state championship game loss to Malta, knocking off the Mustangs 12-7 at home.

The unbeaten Tigers entered as the South division’s top seed, their most recent defeat coming at the hand of North division No. 2 seed Malta in Phillips County last November.

Now at home in the rematch, Manhattan took a 6-0 lead to start the game, as star junior Brayden Zikmund ran in a 5-yard touchdown on the opening possession.

However, Malta would take a 7-6 halftime lead into the locker room, as the Tigers committed three first-half turnovers. A fumble, recovered by Dawson Hammond, would produce the Mustangs’ sole score, a third-down TD toss from Kazner Oxarart to tight end Laytin Erickson.

Following a scoreless third quarter, Manhattan would take possession after a Malta punt midway through the fourth. That’s when the Tigers put together the game-winning drive, starting with junior QB Tyson Pavlik’s third-down throw to Zikmund, who made the bobbling catch to move the chains.

On the very next play, Pavlik found an open Matthew Fenno walking into the end zone with just over four minutes remaining, handing Manhattan a 12-7 lead that would hold for the remainder of the game.

Malta’s offense would not see the field again, as a bobble on the kickoff created the Mustangs’ third turnover the day, allowing the Tigers offense to burn the remainder of the clock.

“It’s good, to get it back for us, as well as the kids who lost it last year that graduated,” Pavlik said of the victory. “They built the culture around here. We did it for them too, as well as us.”

“Hard work went into it,” Pavlik added. “It’s been a whole year of preparation to get back, but we’ve got to keep going.”

Now down to the semifinal round, the Class B playoffs will continue next Saturday when Manhattan hosts Western No. 2 seed Eureka for the right to play Glasgow or Three Forks in the state championship.