Canton set to face Trailblazers in Saturday’s Class S Small semifinal

Cam Daley (3) is usually around the ball and he should be in the middle of the action Saturday against Capital Prep/AF in Torrington.

CANTON – These are the moments that many athletes dream about and for most Canton students, it has been an unattainable dream. The Canton High football team will play in their first-ever state playoff game Saturday when they tangle with Capital Prep/Achievement First in the semifinal of the CIAC Class S Small Division tournament. 

When Canton first had a football team from 1934 to 1964, there were no state playoffs – just a top 10 poll by state sportswriters at the end of the season. The CIAC began hosting playoffs in 1976 but by then, the Warriors had dropped football due to lack of players. So for years, Canton athletes watched as others played football and competed for gridiron glory. 

Now, the Warriors can participate. The school, with the help of parents and the Friends of Canton Football booster club, resurrected the sport, resuming varsity play in 2007. 

Under third year coach Paul Philippon, Canton has been outstanding in 2014. The Warriors won a school record 10 games and captured the Pequot Uncas Division championship – its first pennant since 1958. They face a Capital Prep/Achievement First co-op team (10-1) from Hartford that is playing in the CIAC playoffs for the fourth straight year, won a fourth consecutive Constitution State Conference championship and is 39-1 the past four seasons during the regular season. 

The game kicks off at 2 p.m. at the Robert H. Frost Sports Complex at Torrington High. The winner advances to next week’s Class S Small championship game against either Northwest Catholic (10-1) or North Branford (10-1). 

There aren’t many mysteries surrounding Canton (10-1, 9-0 Pequot Uncas). The Warriors control the game with their running game and play a disciplined brand of defense.

Canton has never had a 1,000 yard rusher until the season. If things break well, they could have three by the end of the year. Dan Delos has rushed for more than 1,400 yards and a school record 20 touchdowns. Cam Daley, who has played running back and quarterback this season, is 44 yards shy of 1,000 with 956 yards and 14 rushing TDs. Sebby Gumbs, who has rushed for over 550 yards in the last three games, has 891 yards and nine TDs. He had 199 yards in the Thanksgiving Day win over Granby. 

The Warriors play behind a big, strong offensive line. Canton’s offensive line consists of Shane Toland (left tackle), Caiden Permenter (left guard), Will Carlson (center), Keegan Toland (right guard) and Pearce Walsh (right tackle). 

Canton plays in its first-ever football playoff game Saturday in Torrington.

Defensively, the Warriors have bent but have seldom been broken. They gave up 31 points in a loss to Morgan in mid-season but it was a one-score game into the fourth quarter. The Warriors have forced 23 turnovers (14 fumble recoveries, nine interceptions). 

Henry Bonini leads the way with a team-high 97 tackles with defensive lineman Shane Toland with 90 tackles and 2½ sacks. Daley, at cornerback, has 85 tackles and four of the nine interceptions. Delos has 66 tackles and a team-leading 5½ sacks. 

Canton has 27 players on its roster but it’s closer to 20 that do most of the work. Most players are going both ways. 

Capital Prep/AF QB Rayshawn Phillips has thrown 27 TD passes this fall.

Capital Prep/Achievement First is a bit annoyed and they have a point to prove. They want to become the first Constitution State Conference team to win a playoff game. The Trailblazers are 0-3. The closest they came to a victory was a 35-34 loss to Woodland in the Class S quarterfinals two years ago. 

As the No. 2 ranked team, the Trailblazers were also hoping to host this playoff game in Hartford. But for the second straight year, their home field, Dillon Stadium was deemed unplayable due to mud and their torn up, overused grass surface. 

The Trailblazers wanted to play this game at Trinity College at 1 p.m. But there are players on the Canton team taking the SAT on Saturday and since Trinity’s field doesn’t have lights, the game couldn’t begin at 2 p.m. So an alternative location was found – Torrington. 

Capital Prep/AF (10-1, 10-0 Constitution State) has dominated in most of their games this year. The only exception was a 10-0 loss to New London in the second game of the season. Trailblazers QB Rayshawn Phillips had six interceptions in the game. 

Phillips has thrown the ball well this season. He has thrown for over 2,430 yards and 27 touchdown passes including a career-high six TDs and 301 yards in last Saturday’s 44-0 win over Prince Tech in the mud at Dillon Stadium to clinch the Constitution State Conference title. His favorite target is wide receiver Jakai Gill, who has caught 43 passes for 1,004 yard and a team-leading 13 TDs. 

Running back Jourdayne Ross is the leading rusher with 716 yards and eight touchdowns. 

Defensively, the Trailblazers have been solid. They’re quickness was too much for Prince Tech Saturday with 13 tackles for losses and holding Prince to two yards rushing. Linebackers James Arcata (team-leading 97 tackles) leads the way along with linebackers Steffan Napoleon (27 tackles), Michon Hunt (40 tackles) and defensive end Sidney Jones (56 tackles, 7 sacks). 

“We’re right where we need to be,” Capital coach Chris Fulton said “Our ability to throw gives us another dimension.” 

Notable: Canton has set new single season school record for wins (10) and points scored (369). The 131 points allowed is the lowest since the team was resurrected in 2007. … Capital Prep has been a co-op team since 2009. They were partners with Classical Magnet in Hartford from 2009 through 2013. They’ve been co-op partners with Achievement First, a public charter school in Hartford, since 2011. … The Trailblazers have won four straight Constitution State Conference titles and haven’t lost a league game in the last four years, winning 39 games. … Capital Prep played two non-conference games the past two seasons. The Trailblazers beat New London, 53-14 in 2013 and lost to the Whalers in September, 10-0. … Canton has a reliable kicker in Eddie Melton, who has converted on 44 of 47 extra point attempts – a single-season record for the Warriors.

Class S Small Division
Semifinals
Saturday, Dec. 6
Canton (10-1) vs. Capital Prep/Achievement First (10-1), 2 p.m., Torrington
Northwest Catholic (10-1) vs. North Branford (10-1), 2 p.m. at Simsbury HS
Championship
Friday, Dec. 12 or Saturday, Dec. 13. Site and time, TBA

Canton (10-1, 9-0 Pequot Uncas) vs. Capital Prep/Achievement First (10-1, 10-0 Constitution State)
At Torrington High
Saturday, Dec. 6
2 p.m.
Playoff record: Canton 0-0; Capital Prep 0-3

Players to watch

Capital Prep/AF

2        QB Rayshawn Phillips       124-191-6, 2,434 yards, 27 TDs)
4        RB Jourdayne Ross           77-716, 8 TDs
23     WR Jakai Gill                      43-1004, 13 TDs
8        WR Nasir Williams             15-367 receiving, 5 TDs
51     LB James Arcata                Team-leading 97 tackles
64     DE Sidney Jones                56 tackles, team-high 7 sacks
24     LB Steffan Napoleon          27 tackles
34     LB Michon Hunt                 40 tackles

Canton
3       Cam Daley                       106-956, 14 TDs rushing; 8-12-1, 121 yards,
1 TD passing; 85 tackles, 4 int
34     Dan Delos                        182-1,403, 20 TDs rushing; 66 tackles
5½ sacks
8       Sebby Gumbs                  94-891, 9 TDs rushing; 5-94, 2 TDs receiving
11     Alex Higley                         7-12-2, 126 yards, 2 TDs passing
7       Henry Bonini                    97 tackles
58     Shane Toland                  90 tackles, 2½ sacks
4       Eddie Melton                    45-of-47 PAT

Results

Capital Prep/Achievement First (10-1, 10-0 Constitution State Conference)
Fri. Sept 12:          Capital Prep/AF 38, Quinebaug Valley 15
Fri. Sept. 19:         New London 10, Capital Prep/AF 0
Sat. Sept. 27:        Capital Prep/AF 32, Bullard Havens 20
Sat. Oct. 4:            Capital Prep/AF 32, Cheney Tech 18
Sat. Oct. 11:          Capital Prep/AF 44, Wilcox Tech 6
Sat. Oct. 18:          Capital Prep/AF 43, Abbott Tech/Immaculate 14
Fri. Oct. 24:           Capital Prep/AF 41, Wolcott Tech 0
Sat. Nov. 1:           Capital Prep/AF 25, Platt Tech 0
Sat. Nov. 8:           Capital Prep/AF 34, O’Brien Tech 0
Thur. Nov. 13:      Capital Prep/AF 41, Vinal Tech/East Hampton/Goodwin Tech 6
Sat. Nov. 29:         Capital Prep/AF 44, Prince Tech 0

Canton (10-1, 9-0 Pequot Uncas)
Thur. Sept. 11      Canton 35, SMSA/University 6
Fri. Sept. 19          Canton 46, Stafford/East Windsor 0
Sat. Sept. 27         Canton 21, Ellington/Somers 14
Fri. Oct. 3              Canton 42, Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton 8
Sat. Oct. 11           Canton 37, Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby 13
Sat. Oct. 18           Morgan 31, Canton 7
Fri. Oct. 24            Canton 42, Enfield 7
Sat. Nov. 1            Canton 42, Gilbert/Northwestern 6
Sat. Nov. 8            Canton 28, Hyde 12
Sat. Nov. 15          Canton 27, Avon 21, OT
Tue. Nov. 25         Canton 42 ,Granby 13
Bold: CIAC playoff participant