Canton football looking for a record seventh win

It was a sign of how far the Canton High football team has traveled this season. For a few days in mid-October, there was some discussion among sport journalists on Canton’s chances to participate in the CIAC football playoffs. A year ago, the Warriors were 0-10 for the second time since resurrecting the varsity team in 2007.

Canton’s Terrence Brophy, right, intercepts a pass against Avon.

Those faint Class S playoff hopes vanished in a 21-0 shutout loss to Gilbert/Northwestern but the Warriors got back on the winning track with a dominant 42-22 decision over Stafford/East Windsor two weeks ago.

Now, Canton (5-3) can achieve something they have never accomplished in its football history that dates back to 1934. With victories in their final two games at Sports Medicine Science Academy on Friday night at Dillon Stadium in Hartford and on Thanksgiving morning against Granby, the Warriors could win seven games.

Canton went 6-0 twice in 1946 and 1952 in an era when six and seven-game seasons were the norm.

It won’t be easy. SMSA/University (3-5) is a quick and speedy team led by scrambling QB Wilfredo Alicea, who has rushed for 650 yards and 5 TDs and passed for 670 yards and 6 TDs.

Granby (4-4) has improved greatly this season under first-year coach Rich Gadoury and 6-foot-4 junior quarterback Curtis Field. In the first seven games of the season, Field has completed 95-of-178 passes for 1,039 yards, 6 TDs and six interceptions. He had a career-high in completions (21), yards (238) and TDs (2) in the win over SMSA/University in October.

Last week against Windsor Locks, Field completed 16-of-24 passes for a school-record 290 yards and a record 4 TD passes.

Canton had a bye last week. The Warriors have played well, winning five of its last seven games. It was a record-setting evening for the Canton in its 42-22 win under the lights against Stafford/East Windsor.

Running back Kyle Mullins ran for a school-record 217 yards on 29 carries and two TDs to lead the Warriors. Mullins broke the previous record of 177 yards set by Justin Rice in 2007 against Housatonic/Wamogo – the first season of varsity football after a 44-year absence. Single game rushing information from games played from 1934 to 1964 isn’t available.

Dan Delos ran for a career-high 91 yards, three TDs and a pair of two-point conversions to score 22 of Canton’s 42 points. The 42 points is the third highest single game performance in team history. The Warriors ran for 330 yards in the contest.

Canton took a 22-0 lead on touchdown runs from Delos, Mullins and Eric Scott. The host Bulldogs scored in the waning seconds of the second quarter and Zach Rollins touchdown run with 6:48 left in the third quarter cut Canton’s lead to eight, 22-14.

The Warriors responded with another two TD runs from Delos to extend its lead to 36-14. Mullins capped off the scoring with his second TD of the game in the final two minutes.

Jake Wood led the Warrior defense with six tackles while Dan Delos, Cameron Daley and Jessie Lachance had five tackles each. After winning just one of its first 13 games under the lights in its history, Canton has now won two night games in a row.