MONTGOMERY — Turnovers giveth and turnovers taketh away. Canton found that out on Friday as they used a first half turnover to get into the game against Montgomery, then saw a late second quarter turnover give the momentum back to the Raiders, who never relinquished it as they pulled away for a 48-6 win over the Warriors during District IV, Class A semifinal football action Friday.

"That's what we talked about, we couldn't turn the ball over," Canton coach Tyler Sechrist said. "They're a really good football team. We needed a lot of things to go our way. We needed to get turnovers, and to give that up, it was just hard."

The Warriors had little answer for Montgomery's ground game, which pumped out 475-yards and seven touchdowns on 51 carries. 

The Red Raiders had three backs break 100-yards on the day - Briar Persing had 12 carries for 162-yards and three carries, Josh Knoebel finished with 151-yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and Lincoln. Miller had 15 touches for 121-yards and two touchdowns.

"They're a good team, give Montgomery credit," said Sechrist. "I thought we came out and fought pretty good in that first quarter, and then they just kind of wore us down a little bit. We just had too many mistakes."

Bailey Gardner led Canton with 74-yards and a touchdown on 14 carries as Canton rushed for 110-yards on 30 carries.

They also turned the ball over four times, though the one that hurt them the most was off the kick-off return late in the first half.

Montgomery took the opening kick-off and went 61-yards on seven plays to pay dirt as Knoebel punched it in from 2-yards out. Dylan Sherman's kick was good and it was 7-0 Montgomery with 8:03 on the first quarter clock.

After Canton went 3-and-out the Raiders were in business at their own 40-yard line, but four plays in Owen Moore came up with the big fumble recovery at his own 17-yard line.

Canton's ensuing drive saw them get two first downs thanks to key runs from Brooks Wesneski (13-yards) and Gardner (11-yards) but it fizzled out at midfield and they were forced to punt.

Montgomery third drive went 79-yards on nine plays to the end zone on a Persing 1-yard punch on third-and-goal. Sherman's kick made it 14-0 with 8:54 left in the half.

Canton responded all the way to the end zone this time, going 65-yards on 10-plays that saw Gardner run the ball five times for 24-yards. 

He punched it in from a yard out to finish off the drive.

They had two key conversions - a third-and-six pass play from Owen Moore to Aaden Dowling that picked up a first, and a fourth-and-1 that saw Gardner gut out three yards to keep the drive alive.

However, Canton wasn't able to convert on the 2-point conversion as they cut it to 14-6 with 4:11 left in the half.

Montgomery wasted little time scoring on their next drive, going 79-yards after an opening holding penalty as Persing ran it in from 37-yards out. Sherman's kick made it 21-6 with 2:49 on the clock.

On the ensuing kick-off Gardner found a seam to midfield, but lost the ball, and it was recovered by Montgomery.

It looked like Canton would force them to punt, but on a third-and-13 Persing ran 46-yards to the end zone to make it 28-6 after the Sherman kick.

Canton opened the second half with an empty drive, then saw Montgomery need just three plays to go 54-yards to pay dirt as Miller ran it in from 43-yards out. Sherman's kick made it 35-6.

Then came another lost Warrior fumble in their own territory, giving Montgomery prime field position at the 17-yard line.

Two plays later Miller punched it in from a 1-yard out for a 42-6 lead with 8:20 left in the third.

Canton would get inside the 10-yard line on their ensuing drive, but as Gardner worked towards the goal line on second and third efforts he lost the ball and Montgomery recovered.

That's when the Red Raiders went 97-yards on 16 plays with Hayden Denton scoring from 5-yards out for the game's final touchdown.

Montgomery moves on to the District IV title game, while Canton looks to the 2027 season.

"I'm proud of this group of seniors," said Sechrist. "They worked really hard. We had a good season - it's hard now because, like I told them, when you get in the playoffs there's only one team that isn't ending the year with a loss."

Canton went 5-7 this year, and reached the District IV final four, a big improvement from last season.

"They've been huge for this program," said Sechrist. "They've laid it on the line for our team, and gave us a good boost going forward."

MONTGOMERY 48, CANTON 6

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

M-Josh Knoebel 2-yard run (Dylan Sherman kick), 8:03

Second Quarter

M - Briar Persing 1-yard run (Sherman kick), 8:54

C - Bailey Gardner 1-yard run (2-point failed), 4:11

M - Briar Persing 37-yard run (Sherman kick), 2:49

M - Briar Persing 46-yard run (Sherman kick), 1:30

Third Quarter

M - Lincoln Miller 43-yard run (Sherman kick), 9:42

M - Lincoln Miller 1-yard run (Sherman kick), 8:20

Fourth Quarter

M - Hayden Denton 5-yard run (no attempt), 5:58

Individual Stats

Canton

Rushing

Bailey Gardner 14-74-1, Brayden Tucker 5-20, Brooks Wesneski 9-10, Owen Moore 2-6

Passing

Owen Moore 2-7-19-0-1, Brooks Wesneski 0-1-0-0-0

Receiving

Aaden Doling 1-14, Brayden Tucker 1-5

Montgomery

Rushing

Briar Persing 12-162-3, Josh Knoebel 15-151-1, Lincoln Miller 15-121-2, Landon Lievermore 5-20, Waylon Barrows 1-5, Hayden Denton 1-5-1, Holden Bennett 1-12, Team 1-(-1)

Passing

Gage Furman 1-4-16-0-1

Receiving

Briar Persing 1-16

Team Stats Canton Montgomery

Rushes/Yards 30/110 51/475

Passing Yards 19 16

First Downs 9 20

Penalties/Yards 3/35 5/45

Fumbles/Lost 4/3 2/1

Interceptions: Canton - Owen Moore, Montgomery-Bentley King

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