Pierce, Midlothian good as gold after upending Manchester 34-30

Midlothian's Gibson Gross pulls away from Manchester's Tristan Bowers to score a touchdown during the Trojans' 34-30 victory Friday night. Gross ran for three other scores and also had a TD pass. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly for The Richmonder)

Dannen Pierce was describing his game-altering defensive play Friday night when a Midlothian teammate ran out of the locker room with a faux gold chain and drooped it around the defensive tackle’s neck.

Pierce broke out in a wide smile.

For helping his Trojans, ranked sixth in the RVA Sports Network Super 12 Poll, to a tense 34-30 victory over No. 4 Manchester, he’d earned the team’s coveted award: a necklace that hung down the front of his jersey, emblazoned with four letters: GOAT.

“Feels great,” Pierce said. “Nothing better.”

There was cause for celebration. The junior intercepted a pass early in the fourth quarter that led to the host Trojans’ come-from-behind victory, and Midlothian’s defense shined down the stretch to hand Manchester its first loss of the season.

Midlothian quarterback Gibson Gross threw for 206 yards and accounted for five touchdowns — four on the ground and one through the air — and the Trojans shocked a previously undefeated opponent for the second straight week.

Midlothian (5-1) ended September on a high note by holding off Huguenot and its bevy of Division I recruits. It began October by taking down another Dominion District opponent in Manchester, which had won all five of its games by double digits and had yet to be seriously challenged.

“It was an all-in effort,” Trojans coach Phil Gross said.

Manchester (5-1) put up nearly 400 yards of offense behind quarterback Jacory Moore-Carr and running back Dior Barnes and led by as many as 10 points on two occasions in the second half. But the Lancers came away empty on their final three possessions.

Barnes scored three times — on runs of 8, 2 and 35 yards. Manchester, which took a 10-point lead midway through the third quarter and led 30-20 with less than eight minutes remaining, never could deliver the knockout punch.

“We definitely expected them to be put away by the fourth quarter,” Barnes said, “but we knew they were going to fight back.”

Manchester's Dior Barnes breaks into the clear against Midlothian. Barnes scored three touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Lancers from suffering their first loss of the season. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly for The Richmonder)

Manchester earned runaway victories over Monacan, James River and Clover Hill before Friday’s showdown. But Midlothian capitalized on every mistake Friday, especially in the back-and-forth fourth quarter.

Pierce picked the most opportune time for his first career interception. With 8:20 remaining, he listened as linebacker Mac Smith called out a play. The Trojans were gambling that Moore-Carr would toss a screen pass.

They bet right.

As Moore-Carr, a sophomore who completed 11 of 16 passes for 96 yards — dropped back and looked short, Pierce crashed in. All Pierce had to do was leap and secure the pass.

Seconds earlier, Midlothian had narrowed the deficit to 23-20, when Gibson Gross fired off an 80-yard scoring strike to Kaleb Melvin down the left sideline. Then, one play after Pierce’s interception, Gross broke loose up the middle for a 46-yard rushing touchdown that gave Midlothian a 34-30 lead it never relinquished.

“They’re a heck of a team,” Gross said. “We knew we were going to be in a dogfight, but it’s going to be who’s in better shape and who’s going to lean on each other the most and lock arms.”

Manchester charged to the 6-yard line with 3:33 remaining before a high snap sailed over Moore-Carr’s head. Midlothian pounced on it.

But the Trojans turned the ball right back over on their next possession as the ball popped out of Gross’ arms while he struggled to break free from a swarming Lancers defense.

That play gave Manchester the ball on the Midlo 18-yard line with 1:27 remaining. But the Trojans clamped down, stopping Barnes short on his runs and defending a pass into the end zone.

“Next game,” Manchester coach Jason Harrell said, when asked about his message to his players after the game. “I mean, it’s only Week 6.”

Manchester is armed with 6-foot-3 edge Camden Chalkley, a UVa. commit, and another Division I recruit in tight end/linebacker Antwann Paige, It also showcases a tough runner in Barnes, who is averaging better than 100 yards per game.

“I used to put a lot of expectations and limitations on myself,” Barnes said. “But now I know that I play better when I don’t think about how many points I try to score and how many yards I’m going to go for. … Just play more free.”

Midlothian players celebrate with students after rallying to beat visiting Manchester on Friday night. The Trojans are ranked sixth in the RVA Sports Network Super 12 Poll, and the Lancers are fourth. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly for The Richmonder)

Midlothian focused all week on being disciplined. Now, by midseason, it has endured the toughest part of its regular-season schedule.

In 2025, Midlothian was blown out by Huguenot 57-7 and then lost the next week to Manchester 43-0.

This year, the Trojans turned the tables on both opponents.

“We’re talking constantly about sharpening ourselves for the playoffs,” Phil Gross said. “And we knew Huguenot and Manchester were probably going to be the best two teams to do that with this year.”