Defending SB champs ground Bulldogs with big second half

It was a tale of three games in one as the Sharon Eagles rode a strong start and an even stronger finish to put away the Bulldogs 32-13 last Friday at CHS.

Down 13-0 in the second quarter, Canton fought back to pull within one at halftime but were shut out in the second half while the Eagles scored 19 unanswered points.

The Bulldogs lost more than the game. Rising linebacker James Bourikas suffered a concussion, and gifted receiver/return man Derrick Harris left with a shoulder injury. In addition, head coach Dave Bohane ruptured his Achilles tendon on Friday in his physical education class at CHS. He watched the game from the Sharon press box and addressed the team at halftime and at the end of the game on crutches. Bohane is due to have surgery this week but is expected to attend this Friday’s home game against Milford.

Injuries aside, the Bulldogs are going to have to play better than they did against Sharon if they hope to snap their current three-game winless streak.

Canton managed only 41 yards on the ground on Friday, as leading rusher Kevin Wing was held to just 23 yards while scrambling quarterback Brian Hagan finished with 15 yards. And the good push the Canton offensive and defensive lines showed the previous week against Quincy was not evident against Sharon.

Sharon grabbed the momentum early when Eagle quarterback Sean O’Neill found Bryce Smith for a wide-open touchdown with 9:19 left in the first quarter. Two possessions later, Sharon intercepted a pass at the Bulldog 13-yard line and cashed in four plays later on a four-yard run by Evantz Elisma.

The first big play for Canton came in the second quarter when Canton recovered a Sharon fumble. A six-yard run by senior captain Matt Bagley and a facemask penalty set the offense up at the Sharon 38-yard line. Harris made a great catch off a Hagan pass, and two plays later Hagan rushed in for a three-yard touchdown. Harris scored on a 60-yard kickoff return earlier in the game, but it was called back on a holding penalty. Harris also had a strong punt return before injuring his shoulder on the play.

The Canton crowed was re-energized with an 80-yard interception return by junior Anthony Ross, who made some great moves and was aided by a late block from Jahron Reynolds.

“Anthony is what Canton football is all about,” said Bohane. “He comes in day after day, practice after practice, gives it his all and never quits. I couldn’t be happier for him.”

But the Bulldogs never regained the momentum in the second half. Sharon began to break the game open in the third quarter as big running back Frank Sullivan found a hole in the middle of the field and rumbled 45 yards for a touchdown and a 20-12 lead.

Sharon added another touchdown on a surprise halfback pass from David Roelke to Smith and then capped off the scoring with a six-yard run by Kevin Jones late in the game.

Defensively, the Bulldogs were led by sophomore linebacker Jake Ragusa, who was all over the field and had a team-high 12 tackles. Ross was next with seven tackles and senior Trevor Ruane had six tackles.

After the game, Bohane said that while his team played hard, it was time to reexamine his offense and make strategy adjustments. “I tip my hat to Sharon,” he said. “They had a good defensive plan. But we are 0-3 and I have to find a plan to put the kids in a better position to move the ball.”

Canton will now prepare for Milford at 6 p.m. at home on Friday, October 4.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Oct 3 2013. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.