Bulldog football team earns 3rd straight win

Much like last season, the Canton High Bulldogs are playing their best football at the end of the year.

On Saturday at Dedham, the Bulldog battled back from a 21-7 deficit to win the game 27-21, highlighted by several big takeaways and another strong performance by the Canton offensive line.

QB Brian Hagan has been a two-way threat for the Bulldogs this season. (Mike Barucci photo)

The Bulldogs (3-7) now prepare for a rematch against Stoughton (9-1) on Thanksgiving Day at CHS, while the Black Knights keep progressing toward a possible Super Bowl berth with a Division 3 semifinal game set for Friday, November 22, against Plymouth South in Brockton.

In the Dedham game, trailing by two touchdowns at the start of the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs methodically drove down the field, set up by a good kickoff return by Derrick Harris. Running backs Kevin Wing and Matt Bagley began to assert themselves, and eight plays later, quarterback Brian Hagan crashed in from the one-yard line to give Canton a chance at 21-14 with 8:58 left in the game.

On the ensuing kickoff, Canton’s Paul Lindor forced a fumble and Wing pounced on the ball, giving Canton possession at the Dedham 10-yard line. On the next play, Hagan found receiver Tommy Galvin down the sideline for a 10-yard touchdown to tie the game at 21-21 with 7:30 remaining.

Seizing the momentum, Canton recovered another Dedham fumble three plays later and took over at the Marauder 33-yard line. The Bulldogs were temporarily set back with a personal foul penalty (one of eight Canton penalties in the game), but the team recovered as Galvin hauled in a 24-yard pass from Hagan to give Canton a first down at the Marauder 20-yard line.

Two plays later, the Bulldogs took the lead for good as Hagan powered in from the nine-yard line for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:45 left in the game.

Dedham would threaten once more, advancing the ball to the Canton 30-yard line, but a holding penalty on Dedham and key tackles by Frankie Powers, Jake Ragusa and Joe Bires stopped the Dedham offense for good.

Earlier in the game, Canton scored on its first drive as Sterlin Garvin ran untouched for a 15-yard touchdown. But Dedham would come back with 21 unanswered points, including a 67-yard march in the third quarter that took up most of the period.

Canton was penalized seven times in the first half, and head coach Dave Bohane said players were upset at themselves and the refs.

“This game showed resolve,” Bohane said. “It showed a lot of character and more proof we are going in the right direction. The kids were upset at halftime, and I told them to forget the refs. We have to do a better job on team discipline, execution, and coaching. Fortunately, we straightened ourselves out.”

Bohane said the hit by Lindor excited the team and changed the momentum of the game. “That big hit alone goes back to work in the weight room, sound tackling, and the importance of special teams,” he said.

Bohane singled out the play of Hagan, who kept the team steady despite trailing in the game; the offensive line play in the fourth quarter; and the play of Galvin, who caught three important receptions and is turning into a new weapon with tight coverage on Harris at receiver.

For the third consecutive game, the Bulldogs finished with over 150 yards rushing, led by Wing with 70 yards. Defensively, Ragusa was all over the field and finished with a team-high nine tackles. Anthony Ross (7 tackles), Powers (7 tackles), and Wavol Prentice (5 tackles) also came up big defensively for the Bulldogs.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Nov 21 2013. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.