Morgan breaks through to hand Canton its first loss of season

Canton’s Sebby Gumbs (8) had an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown Saturday against Morgan — the second longest in school history.

CANTON, Oct. 18 – Even without Morgan’s All-State running back Jake Ward on the field, the Canton High football team couldn’t contain the Morgan High running attack. The visiting Huskies ran for over 350 yards and five touchdowns in a 31-7 win, handing Canton its first loss of the season.

Ward, who set a new school record for career rushing yards earlier this season (over 4,700) has been injured and has missed the last two games, including Saturday’s game with Canton. Still, Ward’s teammate Gabe Eriksen scored five touchdowns and ran for 349 yards behind a large, veteran offensive line. Morgan QB Chucky Kostek completed 15-of-21 passes for 166 yards.

The Huskies led just 6-0 at halftime on a 46-yard touchdown run by Eriksen.

Canton (5-1) was led by Sebastian Gumbs, who returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown. That cut the Morgan lead to 12-7 with 5:16 remaining in the third quarter. But Morgan scored 18 unanswered points to earn the win. Less than two minutes later, Eriksen had his third touchdown of the game to stretch the lead to 12 points.

Morgan’s defense stood tall. Greg Lee had a team-high 14 tackles and two sacks. Mako Zumpano had two interceptions.

Gumbs’ 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown is the second longest in school history. Vin Szamier had a 100-yard return against Berlin in 1951.

NOTES: Canton returns to the field on Friday night when they host Enfield (1-5) at 7 p.m. as part of Spirit Week activities under portable lights at the high school. …. This was a non-divisional contest. Canton still leads the Uncas Division with a 5-0 record. … Canton slipped to No. 6 in the CIAC Class S playoff rankings while Morgan (5-1, 4-1 Pequot Sassacus) moved up to No. 7. The top eight teams qualify for the state tournament.

Morgan 31, Canton 7
At Canton
Morgan (5-1)   0  6  13  12  — 31
Canton (5-1)    0  0  7  0  — 7
Second quarter
M: Gabe Eriksen 46 run (kick failed), 6:08
Third quarter
M: Eriksen 65 run (run fails), 5:31
C: Sebby Gumbs 88 kickoff return (Eddie Melton kick), 5:16
M: Eriksen 12 run (Eriksen kick), 3:04
Fourth quarter
M: Ericksen 42 run (kick fails), 11:45
M: Ericksen 22 run (kick fails), 4:14