Whatever the final score of the Canton High School varsity football game last Friday, Sept. 21 at Stafford, one thing was certain - it would be one for the history books.
The Warriors played their first varsity football game in 43 years and, despite a bevy of mistakes, played a competitive game against the Stafford/East Windsor Bulldogs before losing 24-18.
"We just got to turn the page," Canton head football coach Graham Martin said. "We got nine games on the road. It took 1:50 to get here."
Like any new team, the Warriors looked a bit like an expansion franchise as two muffed punts, one that would eventually seal their demise, played major roles in their defeat.
"The negative plays. It's difficult for us as (a) young team to play come-from-behind football," Martin said.
One snap over the head of punter Jake Burditt, and another through his legs gave Stafford/East Windsor 12 points including the winning touchdown with 10 seconds remaining in the game. A rather inauspicious ending to an overall good beginning effort by the Warriors.
The first punt miscue, a snap over Burditt's head, was downed by him at the Canton 1-yard-line with 8:41 remaining in the first half. From there Stafford easily scored on a 1-yard Sean Heald plunge to make the score 12-0.
The Bulldogs drew first blood with 2:38 remaining in the first quarter when Heald reached paydirt from 16 yards out. Stafford couldn't make the two-point conversion against a staunch Canton defense and led by only 6-0.
Canton scored their first high school varsity touchdown in over four decades when they responded after the Bulldogs' second score with Justin Rice plunging over from the 1-yard-line with 6:40 remaining in the first half to make the score 12-6.
The score remained there until halftime as both teams' offense played conservative with mistakes on both sides.
Canton received the second half kickoff and started their opening drive of the at midfield but were hit wth a holding penalty on their first play from scrimmage.
The Warriors then went on a five play, 53-yard drive punctuated by a 48-yard pass and run by quarterback Nick DelVecchio to wide receiver Luke Mentzer. Rice again reached the end zone, this time from two yards out, with 10:46 remaining in the third quarter to make the score 12-12. Again, Canton was denied by the Stafford/East Windsor defense on the attempted two point conversion.
The Bulldogs, playing ball control football, broke through for a go-ahead touchdown with just 53 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Stafford/East Windsor drove 73 yards in six plays in 3:11 helped by a 48 yard flair pass from quarterback Matt Harrison to Jake Rummel. Rummel then rambled 20 yards for the TD. A passing attempt by Harrison for the two-point conversion fell incomplete, leaving the score, 18-12, Stafford/East Windsor.
The Warriors wouldn't give up, however, as their offense came alive in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter.
Despite two interceptions, the second on the Stafford 1-yard-line with about 9:18 remaining in the game, the Warriors held firm, finally getting their chance from the Stafford 31 with 6:25 remaining in the game. Six running plays later the Warriors scored to tie the game, 18-18, on a touchdown with 3:49 left in the game on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by DelVecchio.
It seemed as the game clock wore down, overtime was inevitable. If the game ended in a tie, the game rules required both teams a chance to score and make an extra point conversion starting at their opponents' 10-yard-line.
But it was not to be.
An intentional grounding penalty on an ill-conceived halfback option pass by Rice with 28 seconds left in the game pinned the Warriors deep in their own territory.
On fourth down in punt formation, Canton snapped the ball from their own 35 and the pigskin ran through Burditt's legs and rolled down to the Canton 12-yard-line, where it was covered.
A Canton player, out of frustration, spiked the ball after the play, adding to the damage with a five yard delay of the game penalty, placing the ball at the Warriors 7-yard-line with 16 seconds remaining.
A seven yard carry into the end zone by Heald sealed the victory for the Bulldogs, 24-18.
"They didn't know whether we ere going to pass it or we were going to run it. We decided to run it," Stafford/East Windsor head football coach David Jedidian said.
Canton could only run one more play from their own 47-yard-line after receiving the ensuing kick-off.
Both coaches realized the emotion surrounding the game.
"I knew they were going to be pumped up. I knew there would be a lot of emotion," Jedidian said.
"There's a lot of excitement in town," Martin said. "I think for Canton this is great. Look at the people in the stands."