NTL FOOTBALL: CANTON'S QBS ARE GETTING IT DONE (2022-09-26)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Yep, that photo is correct, Canton has used five quarterbacks this year. And yes, it’s been by design. And, yes, they’re 5-0 doing it.

“Whoever does the best job at that position, they should be there,” said Allen.

That seems to be the motto for the Warriors this season, and they appear willing to give just about anybody a try if they think they can do it.

For the past two seasons Cooper Kitchen has been a mainstay under center for Canton, leading them to a league title, a district title, and state semifinals last year. Coming into this season that was going to be the biggest hole to fill.

And, maybe they didn’t have one guy who could replace him, but one thing Canton does have is athletes.

“Oh, we got athletes,” remarked Allen. “And we’ve got a lot of depth.”

Holden Ward, Weston Bellows, and even Bailey Ferguson appear to be in there to run more than throw - Ward, Bellows, and Ferguson all had touchdown runs from the quarterback position against South Williamsport last Saturday - but Canton could already run the ball with the best of them.

Keeping defenses honest was the question mark coming into the season this year, and, slowly, they’ve been answering it.

“We’ve been working hard on it,” said Bellows. “We’ve been trying to work on it more. And (Saturday), it showed how hard everyone’s been working on it. We’ve got multiple guys working in at quarterback, multiple guys catching the ball. I love to, you know, spread the ball around, and (Saturday) that showed.”

Bellows and Ferguson also had catches during the same game they threw a pass, while Allen slots in at wide receiver, too, with Ward able to play running back and receiver.

In the season opener against Union, though, they threw the ball just five times, completing three passes, for four years, and an interception. That’s also been the closest game of the year for the Warriors, winning just 31-18.

Slowly, over the next few weeks, they began to trust the pass more, going 7-for-7 in a win over Towanda, and then going 8-for-12 for 166 yards - their most yards yet on the season - as they rolled over South Williamsport.

And the pass saved them multiple times in that game.

In their second drive of that game they converted a third-and-9 and second-16 with long passes. They didn’t score, but did pin South up against their end zone, setting up a touchdown on their drive, which including a 21-yard reception on third-and-15 to keep that drive alive.

Just before the half, with time winding down, a 26-yard reception set up their field goal, while early in the second half a 35-yard passing play on second-and-13 led to another touchdown.

“Everyone expects us to come out, and run the ball, and when we can pass it, it just makes us that much more deadly,” remarked Bellows.

Canton has a history of doing this, too, as a few years ago Uriah Baille and Michael Smithers split time under center. They made it to the district title that year, losing to Muncy, though Smithers was out injured for that contest.

Of course, the conventional wisdom is one quarterback under center. Too many quarterbacks complicates thing. Each player has a different formation, too, with Bellows running more power, while Ward runs the option.

However, they feel that it’s not too difficult to keep up.

“I don’t think it’s very tough,” said Bellows. “It’s tough on them, because they might not get as many reps and stuff, but, at the same time, we don’t care whose getting the job done, as long as it’s getting done.”

And, lately, it’s been getting done.

Right now, as a team, they’re 28-for-37 for 401 yards with three touchdowns and two picks, good enough for a 114.81 QBR.

Allen has the most time under center, going 14-for-19 for 254 yards with one touchdown, and one interception, while Ferguson is 8-for-10 for 85 yards with a touchdown and an interception. 

Ward is 3-for-5 for 40 yards and a touchdown, with Bellows, who just got his first turn under center on Saturday, is 1-for-1 for 17 yards.

“That was definitely new,” said Bellows, who is usually the one catching the passes. “It was a new experience, but I tried to excel everywhere I play.”

Even JV quarterback Ben Fitch is 2-for-2 with five yards in varsity action. Ironically, with all the blowouts Canton’s had, he may have as much time under center as anybody else.

And there’s still half a season left for them try to anybody else under center - Riley Parker, Hayden Ward.

Whether they do that, or simply try to improve their current system, is anybody’s guess, and that’s kind of the point with this look - to keep teams guessing. 

Either way, it will be fun to watch.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Canton’s five quarterbacks (clockwise from bottom left) Weston Bellows, Bailey Ferguson, Austin Allen, Ben Fitch, and Holden Ward…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING