QB Arch Manning is dialed in as Newman's offense continues to click
NEW ORLEANS -- It was an atypical offseason full of re-scheduled practices and offseason activity -- not to mention a very real possibility that there would be no high school football in Louisiana this fall -- yet three weeks into his sophomore season, 2023 quarterback Arch Manning is already in mid-season form.
Through three weeks, Newman is a perfect 3-0 and its sophomore quarterback has completed 78-percent of his passes for 712 yards and seven touchdowns and three interceptions, plus another five scores on the ground. Manning shook off whatever semblance of rust there was with a six-touchdown effort in the season opener. Compound that with a three-touchdown performance on a nationally televised Thursday night game against crosstown rival Booker T. Washington in which Manning tossed a 16-yard touchdown to Rivals250 wide receiver AJ Johnson and punched it a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs via sneaks at the goal line.
Manning, in his second season leading this offense, is becoming a more vocal presence around the Newman football program. On the field, he's remained calm and cool through various game situations and amplified media attention. Off the field, he's welcoming interviews and maintaining a team-first approach with positive comments about his teammates and coaching and -- in the process -- deflecting the inevitable level of attention away from himself.
So far, Manning has handled it all seamlessly.
"All week, we knew ... Coach (Nelson) Stew had a good plan to march downfield, keep it simple and do what we did tonight," Manning said after Newman's 55-22 victory on Thursday. "Our offensive line played really well. Our four receivers are talented and our tight end, Will Randle, is so good, too. We just worked a lot of this in the offseason and it paid off tonight."
This game was circled on the circle not because it was broadcasted for a national TV audience, but because Newman edged Booker T. Washington by a touchdown in last year's meeting in which Manning was intercepted thrice. This go-round, senior defensive back Keith Hampton managed two more picks of the sophomore on deflected passes.
Despite two turnovers, Manning overcame any nerves of playing in front of a way larger audience than the 250 in attendance at Michael Lupin Field and threw a touchdown pass late in the first half and added two more rushing scores to convert Newman's defensive turnovers into points.
"There were probably some nerves throughout the week," Manning admitted, "But Stew told us he played on national TV and his coach told him not to worry about the cameras and focus on the game. That's what we did and we came out with the win."
"Booker T. Washington is a really good well and well-coached," he continued. "We came in more this focused this year and we had a good plan."
Part of that game plan included Manning having time in the pocket, extending plays by roaming left and right, and going through his reads and making smart decisions. On the 16-yard touchdown to Johnson in the second quarter, Manning turned to his third read on the play.
That is a behind-the-scenes look at Manning as a sophomore, who also experimented with sliding in the open field and quarterback sneaks in the contest. It's also a result of plenty of unscheduled offseason work in his receivers.
Newman has five more games to round out the regular season before Manning gets another crack at the Louisiana Division III playoffs -- and the best might be ahead of this offense.
"I think we've shown that we can be explosive," Manning said. "We made some mistakes here and there and I threw two picks tonight, so we can clean up some stuff and we'll be a fun team to watch the rest of the season."