At 121 years, the Male-Manual game is one of the oldest high school football rivalries in the nation. Manual started a football team in 1892, a year before Male did, but only played one game. Manual students then created their own team the following year with the intent to play this one specific game. Male won that game 14-10 and these two have been going head to head ever since, many games of which took place on Thanksgiving Day.

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Andrew Mark

Male

Andrew is a 4-year letterman on the varsity football team and a team captain. He plays center and is also the long snapper. Andrew is part of numerous activities and clubs. He is part of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, HOBE Advisory Board, FCA and is also a Governor Scholar. Andrew plans to pursue a degree in Pre-Med.

Keenan Bilyeu

Manual

Keenan is a 4-year letterman on varsity football and a 4 year letterman on varsity baseball. He is active in community service and a member of beta club. Keenan is a Kentucky Governor Scholar. He is undecided where he will attend but plans to possibly major in political science and minor in economics.

HALL OF FAME

Marcus Green

Male

Marcus was named All-State in Kentucky as both an offensive and defensive lineman. His junior year he was a part of the state Champion team. His senior year he registered 82 tackles and 8 sacks playing as a nose guard. His high school team went 14-1 his senior season and won the Kentucky state championship. He graduated in 2001 and his favorite memory of high school was being undefeated all 4 years against Manual. “ For that one game each year, nothing else mattered but every player giving everything they had to keep that barrel”. After graduation Marcus continued his football career at Ohio state university where he was a 4-year letterman and a member of the 2002 National Championship team. He was an All- Big10 selection as a senior. Green later joined NFL taking part teams such as the Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants and new Orleans Saint. Marcus is now an educator for Jefferson County Public Schools and has been for 7 years.

Travis Prentice

Manual

Travis played in the Manual/Male Rivalry from 1991-1994. He was first All-District and second team All-State his senior year while running for 1,510 yards and 17 touchdowns. Travis continued his athletic career at Miami University where he became the 4th RedHawk to have his football Jersey retired. Travis was the first pick in the third round by the Cleveland Browns in the 2000 NFL Draft. He spent 3 years in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals.

GAME SUMMARY

The Bulldogs made just enough big plays, getting three touchdown passes from T.J. Thomas and a game-ending interception return for a touchdown from MVP Nathan Hobbs to beat visiting Manual 27-14. Thomas, batting a back injury that kept him out of two practices during the week, completed 22 of 31 passes for 330 yards. Senior B.K. Smith was the top receiver with eight catches for 175 yards and a touchdown. Manual (7-2) trailed 7-0 after a dismal offensive showing in the first half, managing just one first down and going 0 for 4 through the air. After the teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, a key play call to start the fourth turned the game. On fourth-and-one on its 36-yard line, Manual attempted a fake punt but Aidan Robbins was stuffed for no gain. Male needed just four plays to take advantage, getting a 24-yard touchdown pass from Thomas to Smith for a 21-7 lead with 10:01 remaining. Manual answered on its next drive, converting three fourth downs and getting a 5-yard touchdown pass from Britt to Jaelin Carter to pull within 21-14 with 4:02 remaining. The Crimsons got the ball back with 17.3 seconds left after a Male punt, and Britt completed a 13-yard pass to Matt Motley to get to the Male 39-yard line. On the final play, Britt lofted a pass toward the end zone that Hobbs picked off and returned 95 yards for a touchdown.