Quarterback Finn Watson finished with two rushing and two passing scores in Manhattan's 27-0 win in the Kansas Class 6A state title game. (Photo: Mike Cerny, 810 Varsity)

For the second time in four years, Manhattan left Emporia with the Class 6A state championship trophy in hand.

The Indians blanked Olathe Northwest, 20-0, at Emporia State’s Welch Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Manhattan last won the state title in overtime in 2022, then lost in last year’s title game to Gardner-Edgerton, 36-33.

“Every time you get to this game, its special and this one means a lot,” Manhattan head coach Joe Schartz said. “You got to get that experience and then it becomes an expectation to get here every season.”

This year wasn’t a nailbiter for head coach Joe Schartz and the Tribe sideline or fanbase. Manhattan held off an opening Olathe Northwest drive to the MHS 17 with an interception at the 22, a play on which Raven quarterback Brody Comfort sustained injury and returned sparingly through the game.

From there, Manhattan controlled both sides of the ball with 280 rushing yards while allowing just 49 rushing yards to Northwest, and yielding just 132 total yards on the cold, windy day.

Quarterback Finn Watson finally broke the scoreless tie in the second quarter on a 31-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead with 6:27 left in the half. The senior led all rushers with 132 yards on the ground.

Then with just seconds left, Watson connected with senior JJ Dunnigan for a 68-yard touchdown pass with :15 remaining for a 14-0 lead at intermission.

The duo hooked up again for a 50-yard touchdown strike, as Dunnigan tipped the ball up around the 10, tipped around again and hauled in the ball for good as reaching the goalline for a 20-0 margin with 9:54 in the third quarter. Dunnigan finished with a game-high 111 receiving yards on three receptions – two for scores.

Dunnigan and the senior class were proud of their four-year run at Manhattan.

“Our freshman year we won it and saw what we’re capable of and last year we lost, and that really lit a fire under us. So we came together for this one,” stated Dunnigan, a Miami commit as a safety. “I think we’re a dynasty now. We come back almost every year and we’re going to continue to do that.”

Olathe Northwest managed a threat to start the fourth quarter. A 26-yard pass late in the third was followed with a pass interference to get the Ravens into the red zone. The Ravens then faced a 4th-and-4 at the MHS 16, but a pass from Michael Hefley into the end zone for Quinn Sullivan was broken up by Dunnigan to stave off the threat.

Manhattan (11-2) nearly ran out the clock on its final possession with a 15-play, 84-yard drive which ate 9:52. Watson capped the drive with a keeper off the right side of the line for a six-yard touchdown. For the day, Watson threw for two scores and ran for a pair as well.

Olathe Northwest finished at 9-4 and made its first appearance in a state championship game.

Miami commit JJ Dunnigan hauled in three catches - two for touchdowns - for 111 receiving yards. (Photo: Mike Cerny, 810 Varsity)