WIBAUX - The Drummond dynasty rides again.

Led by their stable of running backs and senior quarterback Neil Mannix, the Trojans won their second Class C football championship in three years on Saturday, beating top-ranked Wibaux 32-24 at windy Veterans Memorial Field.

Mannix had 87 yards on the ground and a pair of second-half touchdowns as second-ranked Drummond ran for 194 yards on the Longhorns' pasture. It was the Trojans' fifth state title since 2003. Drummond and Wibaux are now tied for the most championships by an 8-man football program in Montana with five each.

"It's incredibly sweet and it's sweet for these kinds of reasons," said veteran Drummond coach Jim Oberweiser, gesturing toward a player and his family embracing. "Each group is special. Each group is different. To see these kids come in and play so hard, it's very special to be here with this group. I'm real proud of these kids and the kids we've had throughout the years, too."

The Longhorns, who were playing in their 10th Class C title game, rallied for two scores in the fourth quarter after the Trojans went ahead 32-12 on a 15-yard TD run by Mannix with 11:15 to play. It wasn't enough, however, and the hosts wound up with their second consecutive runner-up trophy.

"I give Drummond all the credit," Wibaux coach Jeff Bertelsen said. "They have a great staff, they have a great tradition, the kids worked hard. My guys gave it everything they got, and left everything on the field. ... It was a tough battle; it just wasn't supposed to be."

Mannix and senior running back Eric Bergerson were equal parts flash and dash, while junior fullback Bryan Mannix did most of his galloping straight up the gut. He finished with 22 carries for 54 yards and scored the Trojans' first TD in the opening quarter.

"That's Bryan. He's a freakin' workhorse," said Bergerson, who had 53 yards on 16 totes. "In the second half, our offensive line took over. They kicked ass to tell you the truth. I gotta give it to them. We just followed them up front."

Bergerson found the end zone twice. His second one, from 5 yards out, capped an eight-play drive that put Drummond up 26-12 in the third quarter. The Trojans began the second half with an 11-play drive that ended in a Neil Mannix 1-yard plunge.

Trailing by 20 points and with the wind at their backs, the Longhorns made things interesting in the fourth quarter. Led by junior quarterback Jaylen Sokoloski, Wibaux scored twice in a span of 2 minutes, 27 seconds to cut Drummond's lead to eight points.

After holding the Trojans to their third three-and-out series of the quarter, the Longhorns took over with 2:34 to play and reached Drummond's 14-yard line on a pass interference penalty, the visitors' 12th infraction of the afternoon.

But Bryan Mannix picked off Sokoloski on the next play - the fourth of the day for the QB - and returned it 59 yards to the Longhorns' 12, where the Trojans ran out the clock.

"It didn't seem real," Bryan said of his game-saving pick. "They were moving the ball on us really well. (Before that play) Eric got us in a huddle and said, ‘They are not winning this game.' Our seniors just have a ton of confidence and heart. We've been playing together forever, so when I got it, I was just so happy for them."

Bryan Mannix intercepted Sokoloski twice, his cousin Neil once and Bergerson once, but it was the one interception that got away that most folks will remember.

Sokoloski, who finished with 165 yards and three touchdowns, hit senior Robert Gehre for a 28-yard touchdown that cut the score to 32-24 with 4:02 to play. Gehre, who led all receivers with 49 yards, latched onto the ball at the same time Bergerson appeared to pick it off. Both players tumbled into the end zone.

"I went up and got the ball, but I guess they said we both had it, so they gave it to him," Bergerson said. "I don't know, though, that was pretty upsetting. That just put them back in the game."

The rules state that a mutual possession is awarded to the player on offense, much to the dismay of Bergerson and the Trojans' sideline.

Bergerson put Drummond ahead 13-0 with a 7-yard scoring run with less than six minutes to play in the first half. It proved to be the first time Wibaux was forced to rally.

The Horns scored twice before halftime, first on a 20-yard burst by junior Collin Harrell, then on a 2-yard TD pass from Sokoloski to Alex Amsler with 34 seconds left in the half.

"Oh boy. Oh boy. It was almost a tale of two quarters, right?" Oberweiser said. "Whoever had that wind could move the ball. I'm real proud of our kids. They held in there and continued to fight, continued to battle, made the plays when they needed to make 'em."

Amsler finished with four catches for 47 yards and two scores, and Harrell had 86 yards, but 79 came in the first half. The Horns, who were penalized seven times, had a difficult time converting after their touchdowns, too.

"That was a real hard-fought battle between both teams," Bertelsen said. "Drummond brought it, just like we knew they would. It came down to a few missed opportunities for us. If we make some of those conversions, we wouldn't have to work so hard at the end there, and be throwing so much."

Drummond 7 6 13 6 - 32

Wibaux 0 12 0 12 - 24

First quarter

D - Bryan Mannix 2 run (Joe Mannix kick), 1:16.

Second quarter

D - Eric Bergerson 7 run (kick blocked), 5:43.

W - Collin Harrell 20 run (run failed), 3:38.

W - Alex Amsler 2 pass from Jaylen Sokoloski (run failed), :34.

Third quarter

D - Neil Mannix 1 run (J. Mannix kick), 6:49.

D - Bergerson 5 run (kick failed), 2:36.

Fourth quarter

D - N. Mannix 15 run (run failed), 11:15.

W - Amsler 15 pass from Sokoloski (pass failed), 6:29.

W - Robert Gehre 28 pass from Sokoloski (run failed), 4:02.

Individual leaders

RUSHING - Drummond (55-194): Neil Mannix 17-87, Bryan Mannix 22-54, Eric Bergerson 16-53. Wibaux (34-104): Collin Harrell 18-86, Jaylen Sokoloski 12-9, Miles Davis 2-5, Alex Amsler 1-2, Ty Tousignant 1-2.

PASSING - Drummond: N. Mannix 3-9-0-35. Wibaux: Sokoloski 14-23-4-165.

RECEIVING - Drummond: Nate Bignell 3-35. Wibaux: A. Amsler 4-47, Harrell 4-39, Robert Gehre 4-49, Joey Efta 2-30.