Sailors’ air game too much for Bulldogs in home opener

Quarterback Dennis Ross hands off to Dan Alice in last week’s game against Scituate. (Mike Barucci photo)

The CHS football team lost to Milford 28-7 on the road Friday night to fall to 1-2 on the season. The Bulldogs will look to get back on track next Friday, September 30, when they travel to Foxboro to take on the Warriors.

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Friday night’s home opener against Scituate was much closer than the final score (30-12) would indicate, but the Canton High football Bulldogs certainly have a lot of problems to solve as they begin of the tough Hockomock League schedule next week.

The Sailors took advantage of the Bulldog secondary and scored three touchdowns of 12, 25 and 35 yards while generating most of their offense through the air.

Conversely, the Bulldog passing attack was almost nonexistent as CHS completed one pass for only five yards.

And the Bulldog rushing attack, while still potent with 283 yards against Scituate, is becoming too predictable. Canton had almost 200 yards of offense by halftime behind quarterback Dennis Ross (85 yards) and running back Alec Ragusa (49 yards). But in the second half, Scituate limited the Bulldogs to 84 total yards with the defense keying on Ragusa, who was held to 18 yards.

The game was competitive and close for three quarters with Scituate holding a slim 16-12 lead. But the Sailors controlled the clock in the fourth quarter, scoring on a 35-yard pass and later on a 35-yard run — the first long rushing gain by the Sailors.

The Bulldogs were further hurt by a blocked kicked that turned into a safety for Scituate, a roughing the kicker penalty that aided the Sailors in a touchdown drive, and other penalties that foiled some of their own offensive drives.

Canton scored on a six-yard run by Ragusa, capping a 10-play drive, and a 70-yard run by Ross, who outran the Sailor defense on a sweep play.

“Canton pushed us. They are a tough team,” said Scituate head coach Herb Devine, who is related to former Canton Police Officer Bill Devine. “Our offensive line did a great job and our quarterback Peter Churchill did a great job.” Scituate is now 2-0, having beaten Cardinal Spellman 31-14 in its opening game.

CHS head coach Dave Bohane said going into the game that Scituate had a quick-strike offense with a good quarterback. He was pleased with the team’s play in the first half but felt the defense didn’t play well in the fourth quarter, both in pressuring the quarterback and in the secondary. He agreed the passing attack must improve to aid the offense.

Defensively for the Bulldogs, Brian Smith, who also plays on the offensive line, tied for the team lead with eight tackles along with Thomas Monagle, who is also the team’s punter. Mike Marino had three tackles on special teams and also rushed for 12 yards. Devin Foster had an interception.

In other news, the Bulldogs held a moment of silence to remember former head coach Charles Stevenson, who passed away recently at the age of 102. Stevenson played for the Bulldogs in 1932 and coached CHS from 1944 to 1957. He was the first inductee to the CHS Hall of Fame.

Former Canton School Superintendent Jeff Granatino attended the game to cheer on his son, Will, a senior lineman for the Sailors.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Sep 23 2016. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.