Canton will be challenged as they follow up on a championship season

Canton QB Alex Higley (8) works out in a recent practice at the high school.

CANTON – A year ago, the Canton High football team had one of its greatest seasons ever. The Warriors (10-2) won a school-record 10 games, won its first championship since 1958, beat Avon in OT to capture that Pequot Uncas title and qualified for the CIAC Class S playoffs for the first time.

It was all that students and parents that helped resurrect the program in 2006 after 34 years could have ever hoped for.

A new era in Canton High football begins Saturday under first-year coach Chris Currier when the Warriors host SMSA/University at 1 p.m. on the turf field at the high school. As often happens in small schools, there is significant turnover from year to year.

Eight of the nine players that Canton placed on the Pequot Uncas Division All-Star team have graduated or transferred. Paul Philippon, who won more games (24) in three years that any Warrior coach before him, is back at Bristol Eastern, where he is a guidance counselor in the school system.

“Realistically, we’ll be competitive. I’m not saying we’re going to win 10 games and I’m not saying we’re going to lose seven games. It will be somewhere in the middle,” Currier said.

Canton opens the season with four teams that had sub-.500 records. In its final six games, they face five teams that won at least seven games a year ago. That’s what happens when you win a division championship – you get tougher competition the following season.

“We’re a work in progress,” Currier said. “We’ll be a grind it out team. We’ll run the ball and chew up clock but we’ll throw the ball when we need to. We’re starting to get into a good groove here and we’re getting better every day.”

A year ago, Canton nearly had three players rush for 1,000 yards. Dan Delos ran for a school record 1,511 yards and 21 touchdowns while Sebby Gumbs raced for 1,023 yards and 10 TDs. Cam Daley ran for 974 yards and 14 touchdowns. Canton attempted only 41 passes in 12 games.

Seniors Matt Bangs and Eddie Melton will be in the backfield along with junior Sam Jenkins. At quarterback will be junior Alex Higley, who completed 7-of-17 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns a year ago when his role was limited.

This year, Higley will be much more involved. “He’s going to be a hell of a quarterback,” Currier said. “He’s a very intelligent kid who can open it up.”

Look for senior Mekiah Davis and junior Mat Walzak at wide receiver and Brayton Bean at tight end.

Up front will be senior center Will Carlson, senior tackle Landon Whitney, senior guard Elliott Moreau and senior guard Donald Zeffiro. Juniors Jerry LaFave and Ben Robinson are battling for the final tackle position.

Most players will be playing on both sides of the ball. Bangs and Brock Steinfeldt look to be spending plenty of time at linebacker.

The Warriors work on a running play in practice. QB Alex Higley (8) hands the ball off.

“We feel we have a good team,” Currier said. “We’re a young team. If we can win six or seven games, that will be a good start for us. The back end of our schedule is where the meat of the schedule is.”

Melton, who was a school-record 48-of 50 kicking extra points a year ago to earn All-Pequot Uncas honors, returns at the placekicker.

Currier was pleased the way that Canton was able to move the ball in its final scrimmage against Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton.

The Warriors open the season against Hartford’s SMSA/University co-op, coached by Graham Martin, who spent two seasons coaching in Canton in 2006-07. The Warriors will host the CREC co-op team in the second-ever varsity game for CREC on Sept. 19 before taking a swing through the Berkshire League. Canton travels to Nonnewaug on Sept. 26 before hosting Gilbert/Northwestern on Friday, Oct. 2, under portable lights at the turf field.

“I hope we can pick up some momentum in the first few weeks,” Currier said.

In the realigned Pequot Conference, Canton is part of the Western Division with SMSA, Nonnewaug, Gilbert/Northwestern, Lewis Mills and Granby.

The challenge increases in the second half of the season with road games at Morgan, Ellington, defending Class S Large Division champion Valley Regional/Old Lyme and a home date with Coginchaug. The Warriors close out the regular season on Thanksgiving Eve against Western Division favorite Granby which returns 21 of 22 starters.

Another big change for Canton this is a junior varsity team. There are 39 players in the program, including 13 freshmen. The junior varsity squad will play five games to give the younger players some experience. Due to limited numbers, Canton didn’t field a junior varsity team the past two seasons. The Warriors had just 27 players in the program a year ago.

CANTON
Coach: Chris Currier, 1st year
Last year: 10-2, 9-0 Pequot Uncas champions
Key losses: Eight of nine All-Pequot Uncas Division selections and head coach Paul Phillippon, who was named Uncas Division coach of the year. The athletes graduating included DB/QB Cam Daley, DB/RB Sebby Gumbs, DL Shane Toland, LB Henry Bonini, G Caiden Permenter, T Pearse Walsh and RB Dan Delos. G Keegan Toland is playing at Kingswood Oxford this fall. Delos, the Pequot Uncas Division player of the year, is playing football at Curry College.
Top players: QB Alex Higley, RB/DB Eddie Melton, RB Matt Bangs, C Will Carlson, LB Brock Steinfeldt
Outlook: The Warriors had a magical season a year ago but nearly all of the key players graduated or left the team. A new crew will have to prove themselves and thanks to Canton’s success the past three years, they face a challenging schedule of good programs. First-year coach Chris Currier is hopeful that a more balanced attack will help Canton remain competitive and earn victories.
Of note: Canton scored a school record 390 points a year ago and gave up 159 – its lowest number of points since the program was resurrected in 2007. … Phillipon (24-9) won 24 games in three years for Canton and sits on top of the list for career wins in Canton football history. He moved ahead of Nick Soloway, who was 21-22-1 in seven seasons from 1952-58. None of Soloway’s teams played more than seven games a year. … CPTV Sports will tape Canton’s home game against Coginchaug on Oct. 24. It will be broadcast on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 9 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m.

Schedule

Sat. Sept 12:  SMSA/UNIVERSITY, 1 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 19: CREC co-op, 1 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 26: at Nonnewaug, noon
Fri. Oct. 2:     GILBERT/NORTHWESTERN, 6:30 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 10:  at Morgan, 1:30 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 24:  COGINCHAUG, 1 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 31:  at Ellington, 1 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 7:   LEWIS MILLS, 2 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 13:   at Valley Regional/Old Lyme, 6:30 p.m.
Wed. Nov. 25: at Granby, 6:30 p.m.