Record-setting effort from Gumbs helps Canton top Hyde for 8th win

Canton’s Sebby Gumbs ran for a school record 226 yards in Saturday’s win over Hyde.

CANTON, Nov. 8 – Sebastian Gumbs began the year with an ankle injury and missed the first game of the season. On Saturday, Gumbs started and picked up additional carries because teammate Cam Daley sat out the game with a sore ankle. 

Gumbs took full advantage. The senior back ran for a school record 226 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries to lead the Canton High football team to a 28-12 victory over Hyde School from New Haven in a Pequot Conference contest. 

Not only did the Warriors set a new single-season record with their eighth win of the year but Canton continues to move toward a possible berth in the upcoming Class S state tournament. With two games remaining, the Warriors (8-1) are seeded fifth and the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs. 

Gumbs broke the single game school rushing record set by Kyle Mullins (217 yards) in 2012 against Stafford/East Windsor. Gumbs is just the third Canton player to run for more than 200 yards in a single game. 

Canton built a 21-0 lead in the second quarter on a 14-yard touchdown run from Dan Delos and touchdown runs of 26 yards and 39 yards from Gumbs. 

Hyde (5-4) cut the lead to nine points with 5:25 remaining in the game on a pair of touchdowns from Dwayne Hunter-Parker and Ronnie Freeman (78 yard run). But Canton recovered Hyde’s attempted onside kick. On the next play, Gumbs iced the game with a 53-yard touchdown run and a 28-12 lead. 

Delos ran for 89 yards and a touchdown on offense. On the defensive side of the ball, he had six tackles and two sacks. Teammate Henry Bonini had 12 tackles. 

For Hyde, Freeman led the Howling Wolves with 153 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. 

NOTES: Canton kicker Eddie Melton continued his strong season. He converted on all four extra points and has made 39 of 40 PATs this fall. … The last Canton player to run for more than 200 yards in a game was Delos, who ran for 204 yards against Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby. … Eight wins in a season breaks the previous record of seven wins set by coach Paul Philippon’s teams in 2012 and 2013. … Canton’s next game will be its final game with Avon (6-3), which will begin playing in the Central Connecticut Conference next fall. The Warriors will host Avon next Saturday at 1 p.m. and close out the regular season with a home game on Thanksgiving morning at 10:30 a.m. against Granby (5-4). … Additional photos from Saturday’s game against Hyde are available from the Canton Compass.

Canton 28, Hyde 12
At Canton
Hyde (5-4)         0  0  6  6  — 12
Canton (8-1)    14  7  0  7  — 28
First quarter
C: Dan Delos 14 run (Eddie Melton kick), 6:15
C: Sebastian Gumbs 26 run (Melton kick), 0:31
Second quarter
C: Gumbs 39 run (Melton kick), 2:12
Third quarter
H: Dwayne Hunter-Parker 9 run (run fails), 1:14
Fourth quarter
H: Ronnie Freeman 78 run (run fails),5:25
C: Gumbs 53 run (Melton kick), 5:10