Dogs steamroll Norton at home behind Lane’s 3 TD’s

Junior QB Owen Lane has accounted for 5 TD’s through the Bulldogs’ first 2 games. (Mike Tureski photo)

The Canton Bulldogs continued to build upon their opening road victory over Dighton-Rehoboth with a convincing 29-0 win over Norton Friday night at Memorial Field as the new home bleachers were unveiled. The Bulldogs have allowed only seven points in two games while scoring almost 30 points in each contest.

There were several outstanding individual performances from the Bulldogs on Friday, including 111 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground from junior quarterback Owen Lane, who also completed four of seven passes for 35 yards.

Defensive back Charlie Cox opened the game with an interception and a 50-yard return for a quick 6-0 Canton lead one minute into the game. Cox also ran for 32 yards and made two tackles.

Senior Jack Digirolamo had four tackles, made an acrobatic catch at tight end and sacked the quarterback once.

Junior linebacker Ruairi Ritson also picked up a sack and finished with a team-high six tackles to help lead a stellar defensive effort for the host team. The closest Norton came to scoring was when the Lancers recovered an errant punt snap at the Bulldog 3-yard line just before halftime. In three attempts, however, Norton failed to get the ball into the end zone.

Besides the play of Cox, the entire Canton secondary was exemplary with junior Charlie Zack and senior Hayden Rose breaking up several passes. Freshman Michael Thomas also saw some action and played well.

Canton dominated play from start to finish against Norton, building leads of 6-0 at the end of the first quarter, 19-0 at the half, and 26-0 after three quarters. With Canton ahead 29-0 after a Rose 17-yard field goal and a few minutes left, CHS head coach Anthony Fallon rested his starters and put in the second offensive unit.

With Cox’s interception return electrifying the CHS fans, Lane’s 62-yard rushing touchdown brought the crowd to its feet as he broke four tackles and kept churning his legs.

After the game, Lane credited his blockers and said until he was brought down, he kept looking for more holes. He said the offense has been working hard all season to improve and is very excited about its potential. Both Lane and Fallon praised the line, which included Julian Prentice, Luke Laguerre, Luke Richards, Digirolamo, Giovanni DiStasio and Matt Lesser. Lane was not pressured nor sacked during the game.

Overall, Fallon said he is happy with the win but feels the team still has room for improvement. The anticipated return of injured starting running back Godson Ofonagoro should also provide a boost, although Fallon has been pleased with the different running styles shown by Derek McCruse (44 yards), Michael Sayers (35), and Kareem Chaplin (16). Overall, the Bulldog rushing attack accumulated 259 yards in the Norton victory.

In other news from the game:

* Friday night’s game was Billy Cravens Night, held annually in memory of the late Billy Cravens, who was a CHS football standout and who worked for the town’s Recreation Department for many years. Members of his family joined team captains for the coin toss and Billy’s niece Jamie sang the national anthem. Senior Josh Richards was chosen to wear Cravens’ No. 20, an honor given to a player who exemplifies Cravens’ team-first mentality and overall dedication. A moment of silence was also held to remember CHS graduate Michael Uliano, who perished in the North Tower following the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

* Last week marked the opening of the new bleachers at WWII Veterans Memorial Field and they were full for the first home football game with excellent attendance from CHS students. “I’m just very thankful that the town has made this investment in the new bleachers at Memorial Field,” said CHS Athletic Director Danny Erickson. “We still await some final inspections to allow for full access to the press box, and some site work is still yet to be completed, but we are thrilled. They provide a safer experience for our spectators and, when fully completed, will provide full access to all.”

* Former CHS head coach Dave Bohane has joined Fallon’s staff as a consultant this season. Bohane has 28 years of coaching experience under his belt, including 21 seasons with the Bulldogs. Fallon said Bohane will be working with the defense.

* Canton will next play Dedham (1-1) Friday night at home at 7 p.m. followed by another home game against Mansfield on Thursday, September 29, at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Field.

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