NTL FOOTBALL: YOUTHFUL CANTON EYES STRONG 2025 SEASON (2025-08-17)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It looks to be a younger team for Canton football in 2025 as they look to improve upon their injury plagued 2024 season.

They did make districts last year, but we’re too banged up against a very talented Muncy squad. This year coach Tyler Sechrist is hoping to make his 10th year a good one.

“At first I didn’t really feel ready for it, but now that we’ve got into it I’m getting excited,” said Sechrist. 

They have a big hole to fill under center with 2-year starter Ben Fitch graduated. Fitch was the team’s best weapon offensively, and proved to be durable as he started all 11 games.

“I’d say there’s going to be a lot of rebuilding that has to happen this year,” said Isaiah Colton. “A lot of kids have to step it up this year, and a lot of the kids are freshmen and sophomores. There’s not a lot of experience at skill positions, but we have got some good linemen.”

Right now the quarterback position is open to junior Rylan Wesneski and freshman Owen Moore, though Canton’s not afraid to to mix and match quarterbacks to offenses.

“We’ve always been one of those teams, if they both get ready, we don’t have a problem running two different quarterbacks for a couple reason,” said Sechrist. “Maybe they’re two different styles, and if the one guy goes down the other guy is ready because he’s been playing some.”

In the backfield they return Bailey Gardner, who rushed for 609 yards last year on 102 carries, scoring 12 touchdowns on the ground. He also had two receiving touchdowns.

Outside of that most of last year’s key offensive players have graduated, meaning they’ll need others to step up, and stay healthy.

“We have to keep everyone as healthy as we can,” Gardner said. “We have some depth on our roster, so if someone goes down we have to make sure a freshman or sophomore has got to be ready to step up and play.”

Expect Gardner and Dawson Burgess to get the lion’s share of the carries.

“Both of our running backs had a lot of reps last year,” said Sechrist. “We have some young guys that may have to step up, like Grant Jennings at running back as a freshman. Braden Tucker is a sophomore, so those guys will be battling, looking to get some snaps, too.”

Building chemistry with the new quarterbacks will be key, too.

“I think we’re doing perfectly fine with everyone catching up with them,” said senior Ryder Route. 

The offensive line is where Sechrist feels most confident as they have several returnees.

“That’s one of our h high points,” he said. “Not a lot of depth, but we have four guys with a lot of experience. Elijah Kilmer, Isiah Colton, Jake Pepper, and Blaine Wesneski, and then the other spot we’re looking for a guy to get in there. They’re strong, they’re fast, they’re quick, and they’re smart.”

Colton knows the better they play the faster the younger skill guys will get up to speed.

“If you have a good line it lets your skill be comfortable because the quarterback has more time, and it just makes everything easier,” he said.

Defensively look for Gardner and Burgess to anchor things as they combined for 115 tackles and three interceptions a year ago.

“We have to make sure we keep outside contained,” Gardner said. “Make sure us linebackers are keeping the middle all set up, and the cornerbacks don’t let anybody behind them. That’s all we’ve got to worry about.”

The coaching staff will see a shake-up on that end, too.

“We’ve got coach Bechdel from Towanda running the defense this year,” said Sechrist. “I did it last year but I feel more comfortable having him in there. He’s doing a great job with it, we’ve just got to figure out how all these parts plug together.”

With Gardner and Burgess inside they’re looking at Jennings and Alante Ryan at the outside backer spots. Up front they see Jake Pepper, Colton and Wesneski in the mix at the various spots. In the defensive backfield they’re looking at Rylan Wesneski and Monte Whitehead.

“Our philosophy on defense is to play as many guys as we can so whoever we think is ready for the varsity we want in,” Sechrist said. “We want to be able to sub some guys in and play as many guys to get experience, and to keep them fresh.”

Ultimately, though, it’s going to come down to tackling on that side of the ball.

“Last year we did not tackle the best,” Colton said. “This year we’re working on talking and keeping things simple for everybody to get used to.”

The team feels comfortable going into the season with the defense they have.

“Our defense is looking pretty solid,” Route said. “We’re trying out some new plays. We’ve got a new defensive coach, so we’re excited about that.”

The Warriors know it’ll be an uphill battle to get back to districts this year, but they also know several other teams are in the same boat as them, outside of the Troy.


SCHEDULE
Aug. 22 vs Northwest, 7 p.m.
Aug. 29 vs S. Williamsport, 7 p.m.
Sep. 5 at Athens, 7 p.m.
Sep. 13 vs NPM, 1 p.m.
Sep. 19 at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
Sep. 26 vs Towanda, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Wyalusing, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 at Wellsboro, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17 at Sayre, 7 p.m.