Canton rallies to earn sixth victory by topping Tigerhawks

Terrance Brophy (28) and Dan Delos (21) move upfield for Canton in Friday night’s win at Dillon Stadium in Hartford.

HARTFORD, Nov. 16 – The Canton High football team earned a record-tying sixth victory on Friday night with a 20-14 victory over the Hartford-based co-op team from Sport Medicine Science Academy and University High at Dillon Stadium.

Coach Paul Philippon was pleased with the victory but wants to see a more consistent effort out of his Warriors (6-3, 6-3 Pequot Uncas), who won for sixth time in the last eight games. “We weren’t consistent tonight in any aspect of the game so the best thing I’ll say is that the kids played hard, they stayed together as a team and they rallied at some big moments to make plays,” he said.

Canton tied a school record for wins in a single season set in 2009 (6-4), 1945 (6-0) and 1952 (6-0). They can set a new school record with a victory over Granby (4-5) on Thanksgiving morning in Canton.

It’s more than wins for Philippon and his coaching staff. They continue to push each player every game and every day. “Each kid is challenged to be great as he can be as a player, as a person and as a member of this team. You’re chasing how great you can be,” he said.

“We didn’t come too close to catching it tonight,” he said with a grin.

Canton had its moments Friday in its first-ever trip to Dillon Stadium and it was enough. They had two sacks, 10 tackles for a loss and recovered a fumble. Receiver Anthony Zukowski caught his first pass of his career for a 38-yard touchdown and the Warriors received two stellar kickoff returns from Cam Daley that helped set up two scoring drives.

SMSA/University (3-6, 3-6 Pequot Uncas) looked sharp on its opening drive. A 32-yard kickoff return from Kadeem Johnson set up a 11-play, 47-yard scoring drive. The Tigerhawks converted twice on fourth down and capped off the drive with a 7-yard TD run from Johnson. SMSA/University led 6-0 after the extra point failed.

Canton responded well, marching crisply on its opening drive to the Tigerhawk four-yard line. But Kyle Mullins fumbled the ball away on the two-yard line.

SMSA/University took over on its own two and didn’t gain a yard. Daley’s 21-yard return on a punt gave Canton the ball on its own nine-yard line and Dan Delos scored to tie the game. Delos successful two-point conversion run gave Canton an 8-6 lead.

On their next drive, SMSA marched to the Canton four-yard line, converting on third down twice and once on fourth down. But Canton stiffened. On second and goal, Johnson was hit for a one-yard loss. On third and goal, Mullins chased down SMSA quarterback Wilfredo Alicea for a 13-yard loss and a sack. Alicea’s pass on fourth down was incomplete.

In the third quarter, Daley took the opening kickoff and returned it 22 yards to the SMSA 38-yard line. On seven straight running plays, Canton took a 14-6 lead on an 11-yard touchdown run from Delos.

On SMSA’s opening drive of the half, Alicea was sandwiched and sacked by three Canton players forcing a fumble that freshman Mekiah Davis recovered on the Tigerhawk 38-yard line.

Three plays later, Canton QB Eric Scott found Zukowski with a short pass. But Zukowski was able to elude a few Tigerhawk tacklers and faced down the sideline for a 38-yard touchdown reception and a 20-6 lead with 4:15 left in the third quarter.

Twice, the Tigerhawks drove into Canton territory in the fourth quarter. SMSA/University had a fourth and one play on the Canton 31 early in the quarter but Ezequiel Ortiz was held to no gain and the Warriors took over. Later in the fourth, SMSA/University had a first down on the Warrior 25-yard line but Alicea was sacked for a six-yard loss by Patrick Lawlor to short circuit that drive.

SMSA/University caught a break when Daley fumbled the snap on a punt with 3:12 remaining. Canton recovered the ball but the Tigerhawks took over on the Warrior 21-yard line with 3:01 remaining. Alicea scored with 59 seconds left in the game from the four. Canton recovered the onside kick from the Tigerhawks to secure the win.

“I have so much respect about how hard (SMSA/University) played and how well they played,” Philippon said. “We’re lucky to get out of here with a win.”

Canton 20, SMSA/University 14
At Hartford
Canton (6-3)            8  0  12  0  — 20
SMSA/Univ (3-6)      6  0    0  8  — 14
First quarter
S: Kadeen Johnson 7 run (kick fails), 7:01
C: Dan Delos 9 run (Delos run), 3:08
Third quarter
C: Delos 11 run (run fails), 8:01
C: Andrew Zukowski 38 pass from Eric Scott (run fails), 4:15
Fourth quarter
S: Wilfredo Alicea 4 run (Daunte Brinkley pass from Alicea), 0:59
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Canton – Kyle Mullins 7-50, Dan Delos 10-46, Terrance Brophy 7-27, Jesse LaChance 3-1, Mike Amoroso 1-2, Eric Scott 1-minus 4, team 4-minus 16; SMSA/Univ. – Kadeem Johnson 15-80, Wilfredo Alicea 13-55, Ezequiel Ortiz 10-80, Eloy Aguayo 1-2
PASSING: Canton – Eric Scott 2-6-0, 14; SMSA/Univ. – Wilfredo Alicea 7-13-0, 117
RECEIVING: Canton – Andrew Zukowski 1-38, Seb Gumbs 1-6; SMSA/Univ. – E. Ortiz 4-56, Patrick Richards 1-16, Eloy Aguayo 2-45
RETURNS: Johnson (S) 1-38 kickoff; Cam Daley (C) 2-53 kickoff, E. Aguayo 2-10 kickoff, Daunte Brickley 1-0 kickoff, Matt Bangs 1-0 kickoff; Cam Daley (C) 1-21 punt
SACKS: Kyle Mullins (C) 1-13, Patrick Lawlor (C) 1-6; Everett Martel (S) and Laurne Williams (S) 1-4; FUMBLE RECOVERY: Brinkley (S) and Lawlor (C)