Upset Minded

Junior WR Derrick Harris is one of the Bulldogs’ most dangerous offensive weapons. (Mike Barucci photo)

Update: Despite a valiant effort, the CHS football team came up just short at home against rival Stoughton 28-20 in the annual Thanksgiving Day finale. The Bulldogs finish the season at 3-8 while the Knights finish at 10-2. See next week’s Canton Citizen for complete coverage of the game.

Just like a school-ending final exam, this year’s Thanksgiving Day game against longtime rival Stoughton will serve as a measuring stick for the young and improving Canton High football team.

The latest installment in this historic rivalry will kick off tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Canton’s Memorial Field. Stoughton leads the all-time series 43-40-4, but Canton is currently in possession of the trophy after shocking the Black Knights on their home field last year in overtime 28-26.

This year, the two squads enter the season finale with records similar to last season — Canton at 3-7 and Stoughton at 9-2. However, the Bulldogs are once again red hot, having won their last three contests, while the Knights are coming off a tough loss to Plymouth South in the Division 3 state semifinals.

The game was very close, with a last-minute interception clinching the win for Plymouth South 14-12, and it is fair to wonder just how much Stoughton has left after several hard-fought playoff games.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are eager to prove themselves after recent victories over Randolph, Coyle Cassidy, and Dedham. Head coach Dave Bohane said the defense has improved with better play from the linebacking corps, and the offense has come alive behind an improved rushing attack, led by Kevin Wing, Matt Bagley, Sterlin Garvin, and quarterback Brian Hagan. The Bulldogs have also developed a strong passing attack featuring Derrick Harris and new weapon Tommy Galvin, who hauled in two touchdown passes in their comeback win over Dedham.

Their recent winning streak notwithstanding, Bohane knows his team will have its hands full against Stoughton, which came within one win of a Super Bowl berth after knocking off top-seeded Oliver Ames in the D3 southwest sectional finals.

The Black Knights also hosted Canton earlier this season and won handily 40-13, although the game was tight until the early moments of the fourth quarter.

While the two schools traditionally only play each other once in a season, the new divisional alignment and revamped playoff system allowed Canton and Stoughton to square off twice. The first game was scheduled because both teams are in the Hockomock League’s Davenport Division, and the second game marks the continuation of an 87-year Thanksgiving Day rivalry, which the MIAA opted to preserve.

Both teams are different from their last encounter on Friday afternoon, October 11. In that game, the Bulldogs trailed 20-13 with eight minutes remaining and were about to get the ball back when a running-into-the-punter call gave the Black Knights new life, leading to 20 unanswered points.

Canton had twice the number of offensive snaps in the game, but the Knights scored on several big plays through the air and on the ground. Stoughton racked up 355 total yards on offense, including 285 rushing yards, while the Bulldogs kept pace with 290 total yards.

During that game, the Knights lost its top player, Malachi Baugh, for the season. Bohane believes Baugh is the best runner in the league and is amazed at how well the team has played in his absence.

“Lennox Green and a few others have stepped up, and to the players’ and coaches’ credit, they are a better team than the one we played,” he said. “However, I believe we are a much better team, too. We showed we can compete against them, and if we play a ball-control game, we can stay with them.”

In the first game, the Bulldogs were without Derrick Harris, their leading receiver and kick returner. Ironically, Derrick’s brother Michael, who caught a touchdown pass in the Stoughton game, is out for the rematch with a broken collarbone. The Bulldogs will also be without promising sophomore linebacker Jake Ragusa, who was diagnosed with mononucleosis.

In the final analysis, the Bulldogs’ chances on Thursday will likely hinge on three factors: winning the time of possession battle, containing the Knights’ passing attack and limiting big plays, and avoiding costly penalties and turnovers.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Nov 27 2013. Filed under Uncategorized. Both comments and pings are currently closed.