Manhattan High football rolled past winless Wichita North 70-6 on Friday night at Bishop Stadium.

The Indians collected consecutive wins and moved back to .500 on the season, while Wichita North — which hasn’t won a game since 2018 — extended its losing streak and dropped to 0-4 on the season.

Manhattan wasted little time taking control, capitalizing on a Wichita North fumble on the opening drive. Liam Nider recovered the loose ball, and the Indians needed just one play to find the end zone, with EJ Massenberg breaking free for a 14-yard touchdown run. Mclain Aslin added the two-point conversion to put Manhattan ahead 8-0.

The Indians struck again on their next possession, as Joseph Mortensen took the Indians’ second play from scrimmage 44 yards for a touchdown. Manhattan’s two-point attempt failed, but the Indians had built a 14-0 lead with 7:50 left in the opening quarter. Massenberg added his second touchdown of the quarter less than four minutes later, scoring on an 18-yard run.

The Indians’ special teams then joined the scoring party. Adonis Dunnigan fielded a Wichita North punt and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown, with the extra point good to push the lead to 27-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Manhattan continued to pour it on early in the second quarter after a shanked Wichita North punt gave the Indians a short field. Aslin called his own number and scored on a 12-yard run.

Another North fumble gave Manhattan another short field, and Aslin took advantage. The junior quarterback found a wide-open Tyson Hattrup for a 19-yard touchdown, the first varsity touchdown of Hattrup’s career.

The turnovers continued to pile up for the RedHawks, with Manhattan recovering another fumble moments later. This time, Jack Hutchinson took the loose ball 17 yards for a scoop-and-score touchdown, giving the Indians a 49-0 lead with 8:20 left in the second quarter.

Manhattan’s varsity defense held Wichita North to minus-16 total yards in the first half, with nine plays going for a loss and the RedHawks completing just one pass. With the game firmly in hand, Manhattan turned to its junior varsity players late in the half.

That’s when sophomore quarterback Jacob Becket added another touchdown on a 40-yard run, the first varsity touchdown of his career, pushing the halftime lead to 56-0.

The Indians’ reserves, paired with a running clock in the second half, closed out the contest with a pair of rushing scores by KC Sanders and Vincent Johnson. Wichita North added its first points of the season on the first play of the second half as a tipped pass resulted in a 73-yard touchdown catch for Jhett Haberly.

Manhattan will open Centennial League play next week on the road at rival Junction City, which entered Friday 0-3 before a 32-6 win over Emporia Friday evening. The Indians will look to reclaim the Silver Trophy after the Bluejays upset the Indians at Bishop Stadium last year.

MANHATTAN 70,

WICHITA NORTH 6

Manhattan (2-2) — 27; 29; 0; 14; — 70

Wichita North (0-4) — 0; 0; 6; 0; — 6

SCORING SUMMARY

Manhattan — Massenberg 14-yard TD run, 2-pt. good by Aslin, 10:30 1Q

Manhattan — Mortensen 44-yard TD run, 2-pt. no good, 7:50 1Q

Manhattan — Massenberg 18-yard TD run, 2-pt. no good, 4:03 1Q

Manhattan — Dunnigan 37-yard punt return TD, PAT good by Stewart, 1:26 1Q

Manhattan — Aslin 12-yard TD run, PAT good by Stewart, 10:31 2Q

Manhattan — Hattrup 19-yard TD pass from Aslin, 2-pt. good by Massenberg, 9:27 2Q

Manhattan — Hutchinson 17-yard TD scoop-and-score, PAT good by Stewart, 8:20 2Q

Manhattan — Becket 40-yard TD run, PAT good by Stewart, 5:56 2Q

Wichita North — Haberly 73-yard TD pass from Rodriguez, PAT no good, 9:14 3Q

Manhattan — Sanders 11-yard TD run, 2-pt. no good, 9:47 4Q

Manhattan — Johnson 12-yard TD run, 2-pt. good by Becket, 0:59 4Q

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Passing — Manhattan: Aslin [2-2-29-1] Becket [2-2-28]. Wichita North: Rodriguez [1-3-73-1]

Rushing — Manhattan: Aslin [2-25-1], Massenburg [4-50-2], Mortensen [3-62-1], Becket [4-68-1]. Wichita North: Rodriguez [5-minus-17], Alcarez [12-7], Williams [9-12]

Receiving — Manhattan: Hattrup [1-19-1], Massenburg [1-10]. Wichita North: Haberly [1-73-1]