FRIENDSWOOD — Friendswood is in a new district this season and it has some of the best teams in the Houston area which means every game is crucial if a team wants to advance to the post-season.

The Mustangs won their first league contest last week with a 27-7 win over Fort Bend Kempner, but the Cougars were a pre-season pick to finish last in the tough District 10-5A Div. I standings while the Manvel Mavericks were a pre-season pick to win the league crown.

After the opening week -- Friendswood is 1-0 while Manvel fell to Angleton 24-21 to begin district with a 0-1 mark. And the games for the Mustangs will only get tougher as the season progresses making each game that more important.

“To come in here (Friendswood) and win was big,” Manvel coach Kevin Hall said. “It gets us back into a better place in the district standings – and our goal is to get in the playoffs.”

Manvel kicker Chase Cross gave the Mavs the early lead after hitting a 25-yard field goal with 8:37 left in the opening quarter to make the score 3-0 on Manvel's first possession of the game.

The Mavs used a 7-play, 64-yard drive that stalled at the Friendswood eight-yard line that forced the field goal.

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COLLISION AT THE GOAL LINE - A Friendswood defender tried to stop Manvel running back Andrew Riley (25) from scoring but wasn't able to stop the hard-running ball carrier.

Riley scored two touchdowns against the Mustangs on runs of 6 and 2-yards as the Mavs beat the Mustangs 24-14 in a District 10-5A Div I showdown. (Photo by Kelechi Amogu)

Friendswood's offense was basically ineffective throughout the first half while suffering two turnovers that Manvel turned into touchdowns.

With 5:00 left in the second quarter, the Mustangs began their fifth possession of the first half, but fumbled to the Mavs on the first play at their own 10-yard line which was recovered by Steve Polk.

It took only two plays as Andrew Riley scooted into the Friendswood end zone on a 6-yard run. Cross added the PAT for a 10-0 lead with 4:05 left in the second period.

On Friendswood's next possession, quarterback Brock Foster threw a pass that was intercepted by Quincy Nevins at the Mustang 44 with 2:32 left in the quarter.

Manvel used a 7-play, 44-yard drive to score on a 1-yard plunge by Riley with :45 seconds left before intermission giving the Mavs a 17-0 halftime lead.

Friendswood began the second half with the ball and backup quarterback Matthew Dupuis took control of the offense.

With the ball on the 50, Dupuis dropped back to pass, couldn't find an open receiver so he took off on a 50-yard scoring jaunt with 9:31 left in the third period to close the scoring gap to 17-7.

The Mavericks sealed the victory on QB Kaden Smith’s 86-yard touchdown strike to WR Kyler Flint, who beat his man to the ball, then took off down the left sideline for a 24-7 advantage with 3:01 left in the contest.

Dupuis broke loose on another long run for a 53-yard touchdown with only 1:03 remaining in the game with the outcome decided in favor of the Mavericks 24-14.

“That last touchdown we gave up was frustrating, but our kids were tired," Hall said.

Manvel finished with 274 yards and 10 first downs. Smith threw for 206 yards on 17-of-27 passing.

Friendswood had 270 yards and 14 first downs but committed three turnovers and had eight penalties for 75 yards in the second half after none in the first half.

The Mustangs (2-2, 1-1) will face the Richmond Foster Falcons (4-0, 2-0) at Henry Winston Stadium on Friday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m. Foster beat Angleton last week 35-7 in dominating fashion.