Playoff football comes down to the details. In a game with just one total touchdown, those little moments — a tackle here, a missed block there — ended up deciding everything.

For Manchester Valley, Walter Sallee and the Mavericks’ defense made all the key plays.

“It was an amazing defensive effort,” Mavericks coach Bernie Koontz said. “Our defense got put into some tough situations, and they were ready and rose to the occasion.”

After Connor Stack once again broke free for one of his signature long touchdown runs, that was all Koontz and his squad needed as Manchester Valley defeated Bel Air, 7-3, on Friday night to advance to the Class 2A North region second round.

With the Mavericks a spark in the second half while trailing 3-0, Sallee intercepted a pass from Bel Air quarterback Mic

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