Dalvin Manns + Mason Hays Again Excel in Pine Tree’s 64-49 Victory at Center

CENTER -- Dalvin Manns threw for a staggering 461 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Mason Hays, in a 64-49 shootout victory at Center on Friday night.

The game was the first for the Pirates (2-0) without head coach Derek Fitzhenry, who was suspended Thursday, according to multiple reports.

With assistant coach Derrick Hennigan in charge, Manns and company didn't miss a beat. The senior signal caller completed 18 of 36 passes a week after throwing for 418 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-38 season-opening home win against Van. Manns also did serious damage on the ground, scoring four touchdowns while carrying 12 times for 65 yards to push Pine Tree to 2-0 for the first time since 2007, when the Pirates finished 5-5, their best record of the last 10 years.

Hays caught seven passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns for his second consecutive 200-yard receiving game. Robert Hines snagged nine passes for 162 yards and a touchdown and ran five times for 46 yards.

A 30-minute lightning delay made the offense-heavy shootout even longer. The game lasted almost four hours.

Despite the 15-point loss, Center outgained Pine Tree 708-670, but the Roughriders suffered seven turnovers to Pine Tree's two. Dakota Lynn, Eddie Jesse, and Tre Devine each intercepted a Center pass for the Pirates.

Center quarterback Dalton Horton completed 21 of 39 passes for 374 yards, one touchdown, and three picks, while rushing for two touchdowns. Center's Josh Burns caught eight passes for 213 yards and one touchdown, while DeJalen Preston caught six passes for 92 yards and ran three times for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Center's Delvin Whitaker carried 12 times for 145 yards and two scores.

Center led 26-21 halfway through the second quarter, but Pine Tree took over from there. The Pirates scored three of the next four touchdowns to take a 43-33 lead with 6:47 left in the third quarter. Center cut the deficit to 50-43 on Luis Garcia's 27-yard field goal with 50 seconds left in the third, but Manns' two-yard touchdown run and 44-yard touchdown pass to Hays pushed the Bucs ahead 64-43 with 4:58 left.

Pine Tree hosts Class 3A No. 6 Kilgore next Friday. Center visits Atlanta.