Mixed allegiances add intrigue to annual T-Day rivalry

Quarterback Ian Flavin and the Bulldog offense will look to run all over Stoughton on Thursday.

Who will the Eckler family be cheering for in the Canton-Stoughton football game on Thursday morning at 10 a.m. at Stoughton High School?

Will it be for Jeff Eckler, defensive coordinator for CHS, or sophomore safety Brian Hagan (third cousin), who is coming off an injury and making his return to the starting lineup? Or will it be for starting Stoughton quarterback Dan Eckler, whose father is Jack Eckler, Jeff’s brother and a former player for the Bulldogs?

Jeff admits it’s a unique problem since he has known Dan all of his life, used to babysit him, and saw him develop as a young football player in Pop Warner.

“I know Dan is a smart, hardworking kid who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and is a great leader,” said Jeff. “He can do a lot of things, including throwing the ball, and given the opportunity, he will run the ball. You really have to game plan for everything and give him different looks.”

Dan Eckler started two games at quarterback his sophomore year, played more last year as a junior, and has led the team to a 9-1 record as a senior.

Jeff said the Black Knights have a lot of dangerous weapons around Eckler, including Marcus Middleton, Aaron Mack, Malachi Baugh, and Frankie Morris. “We are going to have to play outstanding defense to beat them,” he said. “They have a very good offense and can move the ball at any point on the field.”

The Knights’ only loss this season came at the hands of Sharon 16-14, and it will cost the team the Davenport Division title. Going into Thanksgiving, Sharon has an 8-2 record and is 3-0 in the division. Even if Sharon should lose its Thanksgiving game against Oliver Ames and Stoughton should beat Canton, Sharon would still win the head-to-head tiebreaker and move on to a Division 3 playoff berth.

Nevertheless, Stoughton has had an impressive season, with wins over Holliston 28-13, Taunton 22-0, Pembroke 27-7, Mansfield 25-6, Foxboro 20-0, North Attleboro 12-7, Oliver Ames 44-21, Attleboro 26-8, and most recently Bridgewater-Raynham 25-21.

As Jeff Eckler noted, Stoughton has plenty of offensive weapons. Mack, Morris, Baugh and Middleton have scored on either runs or catches. Receiver Andrew Kelly has caught several touchdown passes from Dan Eckler.

Stoughton has won the past seven Thanksgiving Day games and leads the rivalry series, which dates back to 1926, with 43 wins, 39 losses, and four ties. Last year the Knights beat Canton 27-7 at CHS, with Mack scoring four rushing touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (2-6) are coming off a thrilling overtime win over Oliver Ames 36-30. It was the second time this season that Canton has scored over 30 points, and the offense is averaging 28.6 points per game behind a four-man running attack of Dexter Green, Elias Camacho, Shane Nordgren, and quarterback Ian Flavin. Lately, Flavin has connected with sophomore receiver Derek Harris on some big plays, and Camacho leads the team in touchdown receptions.

Defensively, other than the North Attleboro game, the Bulldogs have been stout against the run. They have struggled at times against the pass; however, the team has a chance to be strong in this area with the return of Hagan to the secondary, the improved play of sophomore Yanni Papadopoulos, and the defensive pressure of junior lineman Frankie Powers.

“To me, we can beat anyone in the Davenport Division because I think the teams are fairly equal,” said head coach Dave Bohane. “But from what I see from Stoughton, we are going to play near-perfect football. For us, that overtime win was a win of great magnitude. The kids were so excited about it. I think it lifted a great weight off them and no doubt they are very excited about this game. We have to play our best football of the season and these kids can do it.”

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Posted by Mike Berger on Nov 21 2012. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.