Bulldogs fall to Attleboro despite good effort

Two critical special teams mistakes just before and after the first half spoiled a good effort against Attleboro as the winless Bulldogs lost 37-18 in a first-time league game against the Blue Bombardiers Saturday night in Attleboro.

With the Bulldogs trailing 14-0 late in the first half, Canton quarterback Ryan Conrad connected with Elias Camacho three times on pass plays during a long drive that ended in a one-yard inside touchdown by Anthony LaRose.

A two-point conversion attempt failed, and with less than nine seconds left in the half, the Canton kickoff was short and Attleboro’s near-side up man Jared Harris caught the ball, evaded two Canton tacklers and scored a touchdown to give Attleboro a commanding 21-6 lead going into the locker room.

Starting the second half, Canton fumbled the kickoff and Attleboro recovered at the Bulldog 25-yard line. A Bombardier drive went to Canton’s 13-yard line and Attleboro cashed in on a fourth-down touchdown catch by Tyler Lindsey. A two-point conversion was good and Attleboro upped its lead to 29-6 with 6:15 left in the third quarter.

To its credit, Canton refused to quit and made it a competitive game. On two successive runs, LaRose scampered down the sideline for 44 yards, and on the next play scored on an extra-effort 10-yard run, temporarily hurting himself, as Canton trailed 29-12 with five minutes left in the quarter.

Following a great rush by linebacker Shane Nordgren, the Bulldogs took over when Attleboro fumbled the punt snap. After two successive Bombardier penalties, Canton found itself with a first down at the Attleboro five-yard line. Canton’s Jon Vaughn ran untouched into the end zone and Canton trailed 29-18 with just under three minutes left in the third quarter.

Canton tried the extra point but Attleboro’s Nathan Robitaile caught the kick and ran it all the way back for two points and a 31-18 lead.

Canton recovered a fumbled Attleboro kickoff at the Bombardiers’’ 45-yard line, but two Bulldog fumbles on handoffs caused the drive to stall and Attleboro took over on downs at midfield. Just before the third quarter ended, an Attleboro player ran 40 yards down the sideline to end the quarter at the Canton 10-yard line.

Several penalties by Attleboro pushed the ball back to the Canton 28, and on two successive plays the Bulldog secondary played great defense, first by Mike Mitton and Camacho and the second by Timmy Cruise. Attleboro failed to score and Canton took over on downs, trailing 31-18 with plenty of time left to play in the fourth quarter.

Runs by Conrad and LaRose set the Canton offense up at its 41-yard line, but a fumbled snap on the quarterback-center exchange foiled the drive. Attleboro then scored quickly on a 35-yard run with 4:53 left in the game.

Still, Canton did not give up. Vaughn scampered 35 yards, and with a Conrad five-yard run, the Bulldogs quickly set up at the Attleboro 20-yard line. But another fumbled shotgun snap ended the drive.

After the game, CHS head coach Jim Goff said poor special teams play continues to plague the team. He said there were many aspects of the game, however, in which the Bulldogs showed improvement, including the running and passing games and the work of the defensive secondary.

“With a young team, my goal is that we show improvement every week and this has happened,” he said.

“From what I saw tonight, Canton played hard, and I think they will be a good team in the future,” Attleboro coach Kevin Deschenes said. “They certainly showed no quit and played hard to the final whistle.”

The Bulldogs hope to get in the win column Friday night at home against Sharon at 7 p.m.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Oct 7 2010. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.