What causes my 96 2.3 2wd ford ranger with 247k miles to buck backfire and die

What is your question?

I pulled up to a friends house it ran great, i go to leave and its running so rough i cant even get down the street. Its backfiring thru the intake and the exhaust it coughs and sputters, absolutely no acceleration and then it dies. Its undriveable. I replaced the wires and plugs cleaned the MAF sensor and im about to put a new filter on. Seems to idle ok sometimes, until i put the manual trans into gear then it wants to die...sometimes i can keep it going by pumping the gas, litely pushing the gas or just keeping the gas pressed down to the floor. Othertimes it wont even idle just starts coughs sputters backfires and dies. I been having to take the bus to work and i really need to figure this out and get it resolved as its my only vehicle. Any help? Many thx.