Canton’s Matt Bangs is surrounded by Coginchaug defenders in Saturday’s Pequot Conference game in Canton. The visiting Blue Devils won, 48-6.
CANTON, Oct. 24 – It seems so long ago now but it was less than a year ago.
Last October, the Canton High football team was marching through the Pequot Conference on a magical season with a seasoned coach and experienced players donning the maroon, white and black.
This year, it’s not about winning in Canton. It’s about teaching, coaching and learning. This season, the Warriors are getting pushed around. There is a new coaching staff on the sidelines and younger players are out on the field. Some are ready to play at the varsity level. Others are not.
Coginchaug (3-3) dominated Saturday afternoon’s game at the turf field in Canton in a 48-6 Pequot Conference decision. Senior running back Parker Tregoning ran for four touchdowns and a game-high 151 yards. He also intercepted three passes, running back two of them for 35 yards.
Canton’s Julian Adams (34) moves in to tackle Coginchaug’s Cameron Powers (2)
Canton (0-6) pushed across a touchdown in the final seconds of the game on a 30-yard pass from Matt Bangs to Mekiah Davis but the Warriors struggled mightily on offense. They didn’t get a first down until the fourth quarter and by that time, there was a running clock and the Blue Devil junior varsity squad was in the game.
“They think when they get down that the scoreboard tells the story and that it is time to give up,” Canton coach Chris Currier said. “But it is not. There is a lot more football left to be played. You need to play hard for that guy next to you.”
Injuries have hampered the Warriors. Starting quarterback Alex Higley hasn’t played since the Gilbert/Northwestern game due to a concussion. The two freshmen playing quarterback at the junior varsity level are hurt and ill which led Bangs to playing quarterback. But opponents have little sympathy. They are out to get their points and make their plays.
Canton made some plays just not nearly enough to keep pace with the visiting Blue Devils. Elliot Moreau had a sack while Brock Steinfeldt, Braeden Bean and Julian Adams combined to tackle Coginchaug QB Westly Benjunas in the backfield for a six-yard loss.
Bean, Moreau and Donnie Zeffiro each recovered a fumble in the game while Azon Click returned three kickoffs for 19 yards.
Coginchaug’s Carson Aitken (52) clears the way for Parker Tregoning (22) in Saturday’s Pequot Conference win in Canton.
Tregoning scored four touchdowns in the first half as the Blue Devils led 36-0 at the break. He had a 44-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. He also intercepted Bangs three times.
“He is our do-it-all kid,” Coginchaug’s first-year coach Nick D’Angelo said. “We’ve been relying on him all year.”
The Warriors travel to Ellington next week for a date with the Purple Knights. They return home on Saturday, Nov. 7, for the final home game of the season against Lewis Mills at 2 p.m.
NOTABLE: The game was taped by CPTV Sports and is scheduled to be shown Tuesday night at 7 p.m. … There was a running clock in the fourth quarter. As part of the score management policy, teams will employ a running clock to avoid running up the score. Coaches can be suspended for a game if their team wins by 50 points or more.
Coginchaug 48, Canton 6
At Canton
Coginchaug (3-3) 16 20 12 0 — 48
Canton (0-6) 0 0 0 6 — 6
First quarter
Cog: Parker Tregoning 3 run (Cameron Powers pass from Westly Benjunas), 11:20
Cog: Tregoning 2 run (Tregoning run), 2:16
Second quarter
Cog: Tregoning 3 run (Tregoning run), 11:52
Cog: Powers 1 run (run fails), 5:57
Cog: Tregoning 30 run (pass fails), 1:01
Third quarter
Cog: Richard Sorensen 3 run (run fails), 5:10
Cog: Anthony Curry 2 run (run fails), 1:39
Fourth quarter
Cant: Mekiah Davis 30 pass from Matt Bangs (no conversion attempted), 0:00
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Canton – Matt Bangs 6-13, Jack Szczepanski 1-3, Azon Click 2-minus 2, Sam Jenkins 9-minus 4; Coginchaug – Richard Sorenson 2-18, Westly Benjunas 14-86, Parker Tregoning 16-151
PASSING: Canton – Matt Bangs 4-13-3, 49; Coginchaug – Westly Benjunas 2-6-0, 44
RECEIVING: Canton – Mekiah Davis 2-47, Brock Steinfeldt 2-2; Coginchaug – Erik Stanzel 1-7, Cameron Powers 1-37
SACKS: Canton – Elliot Moreau 1-2, Brock Steinfeldt, Braeden Bean, Julian Adams 1-6; FUMBLE RECOVERY: Bean (Canton) 1, Moreau (Canton) 1, Donnie Zeffiro (Canton) 1, Stanzel (Coginchaug) 1, Michael Cross (Coginchaug 1); INTERCEPTIONS: Tregoning (Coginchaug) 3-35
RETURNS: Powers (Coginchaug) 1-15 (punt); Szczepanski (Canton) 1-10 (KO); Azon Click (Canton) 3-19 (KO); Brian Connelly (Canton) 1-11 (KO)
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