Tigerhawks rally in second half to spoil Canton’s opening game with 34-21 win

SMSA/University’s Corey Cepalak (52) ties up Canton’s Eddie Melton in Saturday’s Pequot Conference Western Division game in Canton.

CANTON – In football, it’s usually easier to stay upbeat and positive when you’re winning by 40 points and steamrolling your opponent. Games become a bit more challenging when you’re making mistakes and committing penalties.

Canton couldn’t overcome adversity Saturday in its season opening contest with the Sport Medical Science Academy/University High co-op team. On the other side of the field, the Tigerhawks overcame the loss of three starters due to preseason injuries and scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to beat Canton, 34-21 in a Pequot Conference Western Division contest.

It’s just the second Opening Day win every for SMSA/University since the program began in 1999 and the first since 2005.

The visiting Tigerhawks led 14-0 in the first quarter but Canton rallied to score three touchdowns, including a one-yard run from Matt Bangs with 2.6 seconds left in the second quarter. A two-point conversion run from Bangs gave the Warriors a 21-20 halftime lead.

But in the second half, the Warriors imploded. They committed seven penalties for 70 yards, turned the ball over with a fumble and struggled to move the ball. SMSA/University, on the other hand, converted on big plays.

SMSA/University’s Luis Pereira took the second half kickoff back 32 yards to the 44-yard line. After two runs and a Canton penalty, the Tigerhawks were on the Canton 28. Junior QB Blake Breglia completed a 12-yard pass to Kevyn Brown to the Canton 16. Two plays later, Pereira raced around the end for a 15-yard touchdown run. Breglia was successful on the two-point conversion run to give the Tigerhawks a 22-21 lead with 9:54 remaining in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, Breglia completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to senior Devyn Lozada with 10:47 remaining in the game to extend their lead to 28-21. It was a short 10-yard pass and Lozada evaded several Canton defenders on his run to the end zone.

On SMSA/University’s next drive, sophomore Jordan Young raced down the left sideline with a 68-yard touchdown run with 6:29 remaining in the game. He got two good blocks from his teammates on the way to the end zone and a 34-21 lead.

“I was disappointed,” Canton coach Chris Currier said. “We could of, at least, had a better second half. We came back from a 14-point deficit in the first half and scored 21 unanswered points. I told them they should have used that (as a stepping stone). We let this win get away from us.”

Canton QB Alex Higley completed 7-of-19 passes for 127 yards Saturday against the Tigerhawks.

Canton did have their moments in the second half. Eddie Melton intercepted a Tigerhawk pass to stop a drive and returned it 24 yards. But mistakes were costly for the Warriors.

With SMSA/University leading by one, 22-21, Canton was driving into SMSA/University territory. Bangs converted on a fourth down and one play at the Canton 44 to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Mekiah Davis ran 18 yards to the Tigerhawk 38. But after an incomplete pass, a low snap rolled through the hands of Canton QB Alex Higley and the Tigerhawks recovered.

Early in the fourth quarter with the Tigerhawks leading 28-21, Melton returned a kickoff 32 yards to the SMSA/University 33 yard line. On third down, Melton ran and was close to the first down marker but the play was called back due to a holding penalty. Higley completed a 12-yard pass to Bangs but on fourth down and five, the Tigerhawks swarmed all over Melton, holding him to no gain.

Late in the fourth quarter, Melton had a nice 40-yard run to the Tigerhawk 12-yard line called back due to two penalties – pulling on a facemask and late hit (unsportsmanlike conduct). The ball was moved back to the Canton 30-yard line.

Currier said the Warriors will continue to work on conditioning. “When guys got tired, there was a lack of technique and fundamentals,” he said. “We got a little lazy, started holding and not blocking to the whistle.”

Higley completed 7-of-19 passes for 127 yards for the Warriors, including a nice 52-yard completion to Davis that helped set up Canton’s first touchdown of the day. Sam Jenkins scored his first career touchdown on a nice 11-yard run around the end. Melton ran for 62 yards on 15 carries while Bangs ran for 37 yards and two touchdowns on 11 attempts.

The Tigerhawks were led by Luis Pereira with 117 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Sophomore Jordan Young (7-80) and freshman Ian Agnew (6-35) ran well for the Tigerhawks.

GRID DUST: Canton slips to 16-21 on opening day and has dropped seven of nine opening day matchups since the program was resurrected in 2007. … It was SMSA/University’s second-ever win on opening day. The last came in 2005 against Rocky Hill. … Graham Martin is in his sixth year as the head coach of the Tigerhawks. He coached Canton’s club team in 2006 and its first varsity team in 2007. Also on the SMSA/University sideline was former Canton coach Roger Pearl, who led the Warriors for four seasons from 2008-11. … A short rainstorm put electronic scoreboard out of commission in the second half. There is no covered facility at the field and rain got onto the control panel. Time was kept on the field by the officials.

SMSA/University 34, Canton 21
At Canton
SMSA/Univ. (1-0)           14  0  8  12  — 34
Canton (0-1)                    7  15  0  0  — 21
First quarter
S: Kevyn Brown 8 pass from Blake Breglia (run fails), 9:23
S: Ian Agnew 7 run (Allen Chan run), 4:59
C: Matt Bangs 1 run (Eddie Melton kick), 5:58
Second quarter
C: Sam Jenkins 11 run (kick fails), 5:58
C: Bangs 1 run (Bangs run), 0:02
Third quarter
S: Luis Pereira 15 run (Breglia run), 9:54
Fourth quarter
S: Devyn Lozada 29 pass from Breglia (run fails), 10:47
S: Jordan Young 68 run (pass fails), 6:29
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Canton – Matt Bangs 11-37, Alex Higley 2-15, Eddie Melton 15-62, Sam Jenkins 3-18, Mekiah Davis 3-28; SMSA/Univ. – Blake Breglia 3-16, Jordan Young 7-80, Ian Agnew 6-35, Luis Pereira 17-117
PASSING: Canton – Alex Higley 7-19-0, 127; SMSA/Univ. – 4-13-2, 54
RECEIVING: Canton – Matt Bangs 1-12, Braeden Bean 1-17, Mekiah Davis 2-60, Eddie Melton 2-13, Josh Powell 1-25; SMSA/Univ – Devyn Lozada 2-41, Kevyn Brown 2-17
FUMBLE RECOVERY: John Pintavalle (S); INTERCEPTION: Eddie Melton (C) 1-24, Mekiah Davis (C) 1-10