Stoughton rides big 4th Q over Canton

The final score was 40-13, but with a little more than eight minutes to go in the game, the Canton Bulldogs trailed rival Stoughton just 20-13 and were about to get the ball back with a chance to tie the score.

Junior QB Brian Hagan (Mike Barucci photo)

But a running into the punter call against Canton gave the Black Knights new life, and they made the most of it, scoring 20 unanswered points en route to a convincing win last Friday at SHS. Originally scheduled as a night game, the game time had to be shifted to 3:45 p.m. due to the ongoing threat of Triple E in Stoughton.

As a result of the new football schedule, both teams will play each other again on Thanksgiving Day at CHS. The Black Knights are now 4-1 and still eligible to make the playoffs, while the Bulldogs are 0-5 and still playing hard to earn its first win.

On Friday, the Bulldogs scored first and the game was tied at 7-7 after the first quarter. But the Knights scored two touchdowns on two long plays and entered the half with a 20-7 lead. The Bulldogs scored again to trail by seven at the end of the third quarter and were playing well with eight minutes to go in the game when the punt penalty was called.

“As coaches and players, we have to learn through adversity and get over the hump,” said head coach Dave Bohane. “We have made some great strides, but now we have to learn how not to give up the big play and instead make the big stop.”

Canton had twice the number of offensive snaps compared to Stoughton, but the Knights scored on several big scoring plays — through the air and on the ground.

The Knights racked up 355 total yards of offense, including 285 rushing yards. The Bulldogs had 290 total yards, with 259 on the ground and 31 yards passing on a nice touchdown throw from quarterback Brian Hagan to Michael Harris.

Kevin Wing was the top rusher for Canton with 82 yards on 13 carries. Hagan returned from a hip injury to gain 65 yards on the ground and scored the Bulldogs’ second touchdown with a one-yard run. Matt Bagley played a great two-way game, adding 41 yards as a rusher and four tackles as a defensive end. He also played well on special teams.

Bohane said the offensive line has made great strides behind the efforts of Frank Powers, Trevor Ruane, Aaron Faber, Waleed Shakir, Tommy Glynn, Matt Brown, and Selwyn Rogers. “Each week they are getting better and better,” he said. “To get 250 yards on the ground against Stoughton is pretty good.”

Defensively, Jake Ragusa led the team in tackles with six, followed by Wavol Prentice and Bagley with four. Powers recorded a sack on the quarterback, and Bagley and Joe Bires each tackled a runner behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of five yards.

Bohane said the special teams units improved from a week ago, but the penalty on the punt and an offensive fumble that led to a Stoughton score were mistakes that cost the team momentum.

The Bulldogs next play against Foxboro tomorrow night, October 18, at 6 p.m. at CHS. Senior players and cheerleaders will be honored. Bohane is expected to miss the game following his Achilles tendon operation but is expected back in the press box at Oliver Ames on October 25. Jeff Eckler will coach the team against Foxboro.

Also, receiver and kick returner Derrick Harris may come back this week, while lineman-linebacker James Bourikas returned to action against Stoughton. Bohane said the Bulldogs may have all injured players back next week for the first time this season.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Oct 17 2013. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.