Bulldogs top Oliver Ames for first Hockomock League victory

Paced by the running of quarterback Anthony Bires and Dexter Green, the CHS football Bulldogs used a ball-control offense to come away with a 27-21 win over Oliver Ames Friday night.

QB Anthony Bires

It was the Bulldogs’ first win over a league opponent other than Sharon in the past several seasons — and it came on the road in cold and windy conditions. Canton improved to 3-5 on the season (1-2 in the Davenport Division), while OA fell to 1-1 in the division and 4-4 overall.

The Bulldogs controlled the tempo throughout the game, dominating possession in the first half with three scoring drives and then riding Bires and Green late in the fourth quarter to run out the clock and secure the win.

Bires had a spectacular game, using his fakes at the line to trick the Tiger defense, who had focused their game plan on stopping Green. Many times Bires faked to Green and kept the ball himself.

The Bulldog offensive plan was creative and successful as Bires threw to Green and Elias Camacho along the sideline and in the backfield, allowing them to use their speed and quickness.

CHS head coach Dave Bohane said Bires continues to improve every week at quarterback and has shown a good understanding of the offense. He even makes audibles at the line when he sees better opportunities, Bohane said.

Bohane also praised the performance of offensive linemen Peter Sheehan, Devin Costa, Brandyn Sparks, Calvin Winchell, Justin Rudy, and Conor O’Brien.

Defensively, the bye week proved beneficial as the Bulldogs showed better tackling and contested more plays than they did against Franklin, who dominated the passing game en route to a 35-21 win. Leading the Bulldogs in tackles against the Tigers were linebackers Jackiel Moses-Harris with eight, Rudy with seven and O’Brien with six.

On Canton’s first possession, Camacho took a sideline pass from Bires, evaded two tacklers and sped down the sideline for a 60-yard score.

Then, after a hard tackle by Costa caused a Tiger fumble at midfield, Bires ran 22 yards to the one-yard line, and two plays later, he scored on a quarterback sneak to put the Bulldogs up 14-0 with 3:16 left in the first quarter.

The only weak point for the Bulldogs came on special teams as Tiger returner Carlton Williamson used his speed and quickness to score two touchdowns, including a 100-yard return at the end of the first quarter.

But the Bulldogs came right back after that first return, marching 83 yards on runs by Bires, Camacho, and Green, capped off by Bires’ second rushing touchdown of the game.

Bires added a third rushing score — this time from two yards out — late in the third quarter to put the Bulldogs up 27-14. The Tigers responded with a touchdown drive to open the fourth quarter to make it 27-21, but the Bulldogs put away the game with several first-down runs by Bires and Green.

After the game, a very excited Bohane said, “We used the bye to get back to basics, blocking and tackling and it showed. I am hoping this win shows we turned the corner. To their credit, despite the two kickoff returns, we hung in there and showed we could come back from some adversity and played our game.”

On the injury front, the Bulldogs lost three starters during the game. O’Brien suffered an ankle injury, but later returned to the game. Costa injured his shoulder, and kicker Brendan Monagle suffered a sprained Achilles after kicking an extra point. Both are expected to return to action soon, as is lineman Jordan Rodman (hand injury).

The Bulldogs face a formidable opponent this Friday on the road against King Philip. The Warriors come in at 7-1 after a blowout win last week over Attleboro 41-7.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Nov 9 2011. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.