Marshall Manning saw the first extended quarterback action of his high school career Friday night in Baylor's 45-17 win over Montgomery Bell Academy, adding another early milestone for Peyton Manning's son.
The Baylor Red Raiders were already in control when Manning entered with the team leading 45-10 and the game under a running clock. It was his second appearance of the season after making his debut on Aug. 20 in Baylor's 38-20 win over Brentwood Academy, when he completed a 6-yard pass on his first play.
This time, Manning got more chances to settle in and showed the kind of short-game rhythm that can matter for a young quarterback getting his first real snaps. He completed his first four passes for 9 yards, including a 10-yard gain, a 17-yard gain and a 3-yard gain. Those were not huge numbers, but for a player just starting to see game action, the important part was the experience.
That is especially true for a quarterback still learning on the job. Manning's first two appearances have come in Baylor wins, and both have given him a chance to ease into the position rather than being forced into a high-pressure situation. Friday night was the first time Baylor coaches were able to give him a longer look, and he handled it with short completions and steady work in a game that was already decided.
For now, the takeaway is straightforward: Marshall Manning is beginning to get meaningful high school quarterback reps, and Baylor is finding controlled ways to get him on the field. With each appearance, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning gets a little more game experience, and that matters as he continues to develop.
