HILLSBORO, KS - Marcus Patrick Manny, 23, a senior from Dallas, Texas, and a kicker on the Tabor College football team, was killed Sunday in a one-car crash on Interstate 35 near Tonkawa, Okla.

According to published reports, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Manny was northbound about 6:15 p.m. Sunday when he ran off the road, overcorrected, hit an embankment and flipped his 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse.

Fellow students, faculty and staff gathered in the Chapel Auditorium Monday morning to grieve and pray for the Manny family. A campus wide memorial service is being planned.

"Our hearts are saddened and we hurt in this great loss," said Tabor President Jules Glanzer. "Our minds are flooded with questions that will never be answered on this side of Heaven. Our hope is in Jesus, who is the ‘Resurrection and the Life.' Marcus knew Jesus and recently had made a significant commitment to Christ after a chapel presentation."

Manny was singularly responsible for one of the Bluejays' two football victories this past season, kicking a game-winning 28-yard field goal against Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan., with :07 left on the clock, securing a 32-29 victory.

Tabor Head Football Coach Mike Gottsch called Manny, "A competitor in every sense of the word."

"Marcus was a tremendous senior leader for our young team," Gottsch added. "He was well respected by everyone his persistence and positive nature. I will always remember him as a genuine caring, passionate, and kind individual. One who was a fierce competitor, but who competed with a smile on his face."

In his career, Manny played in 27 games for the Bluejays, made 62 of 82 extra-point attempts, and 16 of 34 field goal attempts, with a career-long field goal of 41 yards. He earned Honorable Mention All-KCAC honors this past season.

Manny was born October 7, 1985. His parents are Roland and Patricia Miranda. According to published reports, Manny was pinned beneath the wreckage and died at the scene. The report indicates he was wearing his seat belt

"We have been in conversation with Marcus's parents and we will be hosting them when they come to campus to pick up his things," Glanzer said. "Of course we will do everything we can to serve them during this time of incredible pain and crisis."

Tabor College is a four-year Christian liberal arts institution located in Hillsboro, Kan., with a second location, the School for Adult and Graduate Studies, in Wichita, Kan. Visit http://www.tabor.edu/ or http://www.taborbluejays.com/.