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NTL FOOTBALL: PENALTIES, TURNOVERS DOOM CANTON IN LOSS TO STEEL-HIGH (2022-12-03)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
SHAMOKIN — With the way the Pennsylvania Eastern Final game was playing out there were going to be tears on the Canton sidelines. Unfortunately for the Warriors, they were tears of sadness, as Steel-High a touchdown in the final minute to pull out a 28-21 win Friday.

Canton was undone by penalties (seven for 45-yards) and turnovers (three in the final quarter, four for the game). While the SteamRollers had their own problems with penalties (11-for-85 yards), they only had one giveaway all night.

“That’s what we talked about of what couldn’t happen”, said Canton coach Tyler Sechrist. “It’s a part of football, it’s a close game and that made the difference.”

Twice in the fourth quarter Canton was able to keep Steel-High out of the end zone despite giving the Rollers favorable field position.

“That’s doesn’t surprise me,” an emotional Sechrist said. “I know what these guys are made of. I know what they’re about. They’ll fight till the end no matter what the circumstances, so I wasn’t surprised by the battle.”

In the end, though, they gave Steel-High, the best offensive team in Class A, too many chances. The Rollers had 65 offensive plays on the night compared to Canton’s 41, and had a 19-13 edge in first downs.

Steel-High finished with 360 total yards of offense, with Division-I recruit Alex Erby going 22-for-31 for 206-yards with a touchdown and pick for Steel-High. His two top targets were Daquan McCraw (10 catches, 99 yards) and Jaeion Perry (nine catches, 86-yards, one touchdown).

The Canton defensive backs of Austin Allen and Bailey Ferguson did a good job of keeping the receivers in front of them, making good tackles, and Allen even got an interception, just Erby’s fourth of the season.

“He had great coverage - the one down here in the end zone he was right on him,” said Sechrist. “Stepped in front of that one and picked it off, and he really stepped up today. Both corners, Bailey did a good job, too.”

Regardless, Canton did a good job of not letting Steel-High take the top off the defense, as much of the Rollers yards came after the catch on screens, shovel passes, or short routes.

“We did a pretty good job with the pass,” Sechrist said. “I mean, that’s a Division-I quarterback. He has some really good receivers.”

Running back Ronald Burnette, though, was able to get loose for 139-yards on 27 carries and three scores. It was feast or famine with him - Canton caught him in the backfield six times, but he also had seven runs of 10-yards or more.

“He was quick, shifty,” said Sechrist. “They do well blocking up front, and we had a little bit of trouble stopping that.”

Burnette’s elusiveness was evident on their final touchdown when he spun out of two Canton tacklers for the winning score.

For Canton Weston Bellows had himself a game, running the ball 18 times for 122-yards, while going 2-for-3 through the air for 30 yards with a touchdown and a pick.

“He just ran hard,” said Sechrist. “He’s a player. He’s done everything for us all y ear, he can play any position, and he’s a playmaker.”

Riley Parker finished with 57-yards on five carries, while Holden Ward had himself another big game. The sophomore added 36-yards on five runs, including a touchdown, and had some strong defensive stops in the second half when he took the place of an injured Hudson Ward.

“He’s a really good athlete,” said Sechrist. “He’s going to be good for us next year. He’s got a lot of great experience this year. He’s going to be a big part of the team next year.”

Michael Davis had the 18-yard touchdown catch on the day, and even ran the ball once for 13 yards. And lineman Brenen Taylor got into the end zone, scooping up a fumble and rumbling 12-yards to pay dirt for Canton’s first score.

It was Steel-High getting the fast start, taking the opening kick-off and going 69-yards on eight plays to get into the end zone. Five of their plays were eight yards or more, with Erby hitting a sweeping Perry with a shove pass, as he took it 16-yards for the score. Judah Hernandez added the point after for the 7-0 lead with 8:36 on the clock.

Canton fumbled away the ensuing kick-off, giving Steel-High the ball at the Warrior 33-yard line. However, penalties dogged the Rollers - they had three for 30 yards - and their they turned it over on downs.

Finally with the ball Canton was able to pick up a pair of first downs, but on third-and-five a fumbled snap led to a Steel-High sack, and the Warriors were forced to punt.

Canton would force a 3-and-out on Steel-High’s next drive, giving the Warriors the ball back on their 35-yard line.

A Bellows to Hayden Ward 12-yard pass play on second down got them to mid-field. After a 9-yard Bellows run Parker rumbled over the right side for 29-yards to get to the Steel-High 12-yard line.

That’s when Canton got a little luck. After a clean snap the ball came loose, but, luckily for Canton, Taylor was on it. He ran up the middle to the end zone, carrying three Steel-High tacklers with him as he dove into the end zone.

The lineman called his touchdown, which capped off a five play, 65-yard drive, ‘electrifying.’ Bailey Ferguson added the point after to make it 7-7 with 11:43 left to play.

From there the game turned into a slog of four punts and a pick to go to halftime level.

Canton came out in the third quarter hot, as they would take the opening possession 54-yards to the house in just six plays.

It began with a 16-yard Bellows run, followed by another Bellows run, this time 20-yards, two plays later to get inside the 20.

Then, on third-and-10 at the 18-yard line, Bellows hit Davis in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown. Ferguson’s kick was good, and Canton had their first lead, 14-7, just three minutes into the half.

It didn’t take long for Steel-High to respond, though. They fumbled their ensuing kick-off, but it was picked up by an up man, who rumbled up to the Canton 45-yard line.

Four plays later Burnnette ran it in from 25-yards out, though Hernandez’s kick was blocked, as Canton kept the lead, 14-13, with 7:26 left in the third.

The Warriors answered in kind with a four play, 53-yard scoring drive. Holden Ward led things off with a 12-yard run on an option, followed by a 21-yard Parker run.

After a Bellows 19-yard run got them down to the 1-yard line, Holden Ward punched it in to put the Warriors back on top, 21-13, after the Ferguson kick, with 6:12 left in the quarter.

The shoot-out continued, as Steel-High, starting on their own 20-yard line, would go on a 13-play drive, ending with a Burnette 1-yard run on third-and-goal.

It was a wild drive, with Steel-High getting backed up to the Canton 22-yard line on second and goal. However, Erby hit McCraw for a 21-yard gain to set up the score.

Erby ran in the 2-point conversion, and it was 21-21 with 58.2 left in the third.

Canton started their next drive with back to back penalties, and were forced to punt. The Rollers would get down to the Canton 25-yard line, but three straight Erby incompletions gave Canton the ball back at their own 30-yard line.

However, a fumble on the ensuing play give the ball back to Steel-High on the Warrior 45. Four plays later the Rollers were first-and-goal at the Canton 10-yard line.

Steel-High went to the ground the next three plays, but were stuffed each time. On fourth-and-goal from the eight Canton forced another Erby incompletion to get the ball back.

Canton’s ensuing drive begin with a 15-yard Bellows run. A 5-yard run from Bellows that ended with a Steel-High facemark got Canton to the 33-yard line.

However, two plays later a fumble off a pitch was picked up by Steel-High, giving them the ball at the Warrior 28-yard line.

Five plays later, on third-and-2 from the Canton 10-yard line, Burnette broke a pair of tackles, then sprinted to the end zone for the game winning touchdown. Hernandez’s kick was good, and Steel-High led 28-21 with 34.7 seconds to play.

Canton would throw a pick on the first play of scrimmage, effectively ending the game.

Defensive, Hayden Ward led Canton with 13 tackles, while Hudson Ward had nine. Bellows finished with nine tackles, as Ferguson had eight. Taylor notched seven, and Allen added six - all of them unassisted.

While the Warriors return several key players - Holden Ward, Hudson Ward, Michael Davis - this will be the end of an era for Canton football.

“I can’t find words that are good enough to explain what they meant to this program,” Sechrist said about his seniors. “I would say, easily, the best program in Canton history. They just wanted it so bad, that’s why it hurt so bad, but they have been amazing.”

Even if this goes down as a loss, it doesn’t take away from what they’ve been able to accomplish in their four years at Canton.

“Memories made for a lifetime,” said Sechrist. “We’ll talk about these games forever. They played a lot of football, it’s just an amazing experience, and I’m blessed to be the coach.”

— —

STEEL-HIGH 28, CANTON 21

Canton 0 7 14 0 - 21

Steel-High 7 0 14 7 - 28

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

S - Alex Erby 16-yard pass to Jaeion Perry (Judah Hernandez kick), 8:36

Second Quarter

C - Brenen Taylor 12-yard run (Bailey Ferguson kick), 11:43

Third Quarter

C - Weston Bellows 18-yard pass to Michael Davis (Ferguson kick), 9:00

S - Ronald Burnette 25-yard run (kick blocked), 7:26

C - Holden Ward 1-yard run (Ferguson kick), 6:12

S - Ronald Burnette 1- yard run (Alex Erby run), :58.2

Fourth Quarter

S - Ronald Burnette 10-yard run (Hernandez kick), :34.7

Individual Stats

Canton

Passing

Weston Bellows 2-3-30-1-1, Bailey Ferguson 1-1-(-1)-0-0

Rushing

Weston Bellows 18-122, Riley Parker 5-57, Holden Ward 5-36-1, Hayden Ward 3-10, Bailey Ferguson 3-(-26), Brenen Taylor 1-12-1, Michael Davis 1-13, Team 1-(-4)

Receiving

Michael Davis 1-18-1, Hayden Ward 1-12, Hudson Ward 1-(-1)

Steel-High

Passing

Alex Erby 22-31-206-1-1

Rushing

Ronald Burnette 27-139-3, Daquan McCraw 1-(-2), Alex Erby 5-6, Jaeion Perry 1-11

Receiving

Daquan McCraw 10-99, Jaeion Perry 9-86-1, Ronald Burnette 2-10, Asa Kochvar 1-11

Team Stats

Canton Steel-High

Rushing/Yards 37/220 34/154