Mannheim running back Aaron Garrison shakes off Bamberg's Kenneth Howard during Mannheim's 51-20 win in Saturday's Division II quarterfinal playoff game. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Mannheim running back Aaron Garrison shakes off Bamberg's Kenneth Howard during Mannheim's 51-20 win in Saturday's Division II quarterfinal playoff game. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Mannheim running back Aaron Garrison shakes off Bamberg's John Bradley as he picks up some of his 212 rushing yards in Mannheim's 51-20 rout of the Barons during Saturday's Division II quarterfinal playoff game. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Mannheim's Calvin Baisden heads up the field during Mannheim's 51-20 rout of the Barons during Saturday's Division II playoff game at Mannheim. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Bamberg's NaCari Madison attempts a pass during Saturday's D-II playoff game against host Mannheim. Mannheim won, 51-20. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Bamberg's Brian Hargraves tries to elude Mannheim defender Sean Knight during Saturday's D-II quarterfinal playoff game. The Bison won, 51-20. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Mannheim's Aaron Garrison reaches for the goal line during Saturday's D-II playoff game against Bamberg. Garrison finished with five touchdowns on the day as Mannheim won, 51-20. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
MANNHEIM, Germany — Mannheim isn’t ready to say goodbye to its football program just yet. The Bison stampeded their way past the Bamberg Barons, 51-20, Saturday in a Division II quarterfinal playoff game.
The high school, which is scheduled to close at the end of the school year, will have at least one more game. It will host surprise winner International School of Brussels next week in one semifinal game. ISB knocked off previously unbeaten Ansbach, 22-12, Friday.
One of the key plays in Saturday’s game came with time running out in the second quarter and Bamberg, trailing 14-7, deep in Bison territory. Bamberg quarterback NaCari Madison, looking to even the score before halftime, was picked off by Mannheim’s Calvin Baisden. On the next play, running back Aaron Garrison broke through the Bamberg defense and scrambled 55 yards to the end zone with no time left.
The touchdown was one of five on the day for Garrison, who carried the ball 21 times for 212 yards. He also had a 77-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
“I give most of the credit to my offensive line, it was the best job they have done all season,” Garrison said.
Trailing 29-7 in the third quarter, Bamberg looked to make things interesting as it drove down the field to narrow the lead with a 2-yard touchdown run by Brian Hargraves.
“You’re acting like the games over. It’s not,” Mannheim coach Frank Macias shouted to his team.
The Barons weren’t able to muster up a comeback, though, as they seemed to unravel mentally after every big Mannheim play. Two Bamberg players were ejected from the game as the personal fouls accumulated.
Jacob Lankford added the final two touchdowns for the Bison with a 3-yard run and a 5-yard carry.
Tyler Lewis led the Bamberg offense with two touchdowns and 141 yards on just six carries.
“I know the season’s over, but I love playing with this team,” an emotional Lewis said after the game.
John Bradley led the Bamberg defense with six tackles, two for lost yardage.
Jacob Lankford led the Mannheim defense with 14 tackles. Austin Benton and Sean Knight each added seven stops.
“We are very physical … when a team is physical, it makes up for the little mistakes,” Macias said. “I’m so proud of their effort and hard work, we’re gelling right now.”
