Grant Snowden kicked a 38-yard field goal on the final play of the game to lift the Manhattan Indians  to a 31-28 victory over the Junction City Blue Jays Friday night at Bishop Stadium in Manhattan.

The kick ended a see-saw game that saw both teams hold the lead before Manhattan drove down the field in the closing minutes to kick the field goal and defeat the Blue Jays. That drive began after the Blue Jays were stopped at the Indians 7-yard line on a fourth and one play, ending a chance for the Blue Jays to take a seven-point lead.

Blue Jay coach Randall Zimmerman pointed to costly mistakes by Junction City in the first half including turnovers and an off sides penalty on a fourth day play. “They’re punting the ball to us, we move into the neutral zone, just mental errors all over the place. I just feel terrible for our kids, they practice so hard, they’re good kids, they’ve come together, you know those kinds of things.” Zimmerman said the Blue Jays will regroup, prepare well and play Seaman on Senior Night next Friday night.

Junction City ( 5-1 ) had one fumble at the Manhattan ( 5-1 ) one yard line late in the second quarter. The Indians recovered the football, leaving the game tied 14-14 going into halftime.

With the win Manhattan claims possession of the Sportsmanship Trophy for the coming year. That trophy is presented to the winner of the game between the two schools each year.