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Canton drops contest to elusive Kristian Sapp and Cromwell/Portland

Cromwell/Portland's Kristian Sapp (33) scored 5 TDs Saturday but also played stellar defense. He bats away a pass from Canton receiver Ta'ki Blizzard in the end zone.

Cromwell/Portland’s Kristian Sapp (33) scored 5 TDs Saturday but also played stellar defense. He bats away a pass from Canton receiver Ta’ki Blizzard in the end zone.

CANTON, Oct. 29 – The Canton High football team had five first downs on a first quarter scoring drive as they found the end zone for the first time in three games Saturday against undefeated Cromwell/Portland.

But it wasn’t enough as Cromwell’s Kristian Sapp scored five touchdowns to lead the undefeated Panthers to a dominating 53-6 decision in Pequot Conference action. Sapp ran for a game-high 211 yards and four touchdowns on eight carries. He also scored on a 42-yard punt return.

Sapp also had four touchdowns called back due to penalties. A 51-yard punt return and a 60-yard interception return were called back due to penalties along with a 39-yard run and a five-yard run. The Panthers (6-0) were called for 13 penalties in the game.

Cromwell/Portland had an early 14-0 lead when quarterback Dugan Lloyd led Canton on an 11-play, 52-yard scoring drive. The Warriors had five first downs on the drive, successfully gaining a fourth down play deep in their own territory. Lloyd scored on a one-yard run with 3:09 remaining in the first quarter.

Jack Szczepanski (20) looks for running room in Saturday's loss to Cromwell/Portland at the high school.

Jack Szczepanski (20) looks for running room in Saturday’s loss to Cromwell/Portland at the high school.

It was Canton’s second touchdown of the season and the first since September 16 in a 51-6 loss to Gilbert/Northwestern. The Warriors have been blanked in four of six games this season.

Braedon Bean led the Canton ground attack, rushing for 94 yards on 25 carries. Lloyd completed 3-of-9 passes for 17 yards and one interception. Gavin Wood had three catches for 17 yards for Canton, who travel to face Morgan (4-3) on Friday night in Clinton.

Cromwell/Portland (6-0) has a big game with Ellington (6-1) on Thursday night at Pierson Park in Cromwell.

Cromwell/Portland's Kristian Sapp (33) gets away from Canton's Gavin Wood (40).

Cromwell/Portland’s Kristian Sapp (33) gets away from Canton’s Gavin Wood (40).

NOTES: Jerry LaFave blocked an extra point for the Warriors in the second quarter. … Canton has scored the fewest points (12) of any team in the state. Plainville (0-7) has scored 34 while Wilby-Waterbury (0-7) has scored 46. … The Warriors have lost 17 straight games dating back to the 2014 CIAC Class S playoffs. It’s longest streak since the team was reborn in 2007 but not the longest in school history. Canton dropped 23 in a row from 1960-64 and 2007-08. … This was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

Cromwell/Portland 53, Canton 6
At Canton
Cromwell/Portland (6-0)       21  20  12  0  — 53
Canton (0-6)                          6    0    0  0  — 6
First quarter
CP: Kristian Sapp 45 run (Richard Loza kick), 11:08
CP: Alex Hinkle 48 pass from Bryce Karsette (Loza kick), 8:41
Can: Dugan Lloyd 1 run (run fails), 3:09
CP: Sapp 42 run (Loza kick), 2:48
Second quarter
CP: Dianta Highsmith 41 pass from Karsette (Loza kick), 10:50
CP: Sapp 42 punt return (kick blocked), 5:14
CP: Sapp 16 run (Loza kick), 4:27
Third quarter
CP: Highsmith 18 pass from Karsette (kick failed), 8:27
CP: Sapp 15 run (kick blocked), 0:05
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Canton – Braedon Bean 25-94, Ta’ki Blizzard 6-17, Jack Szczepanski 7-2, Dugan Lloyd 3-7, Carter Gavin 2-minus 3; Cromwell/Portland – Kristian Sapp 8-198, Devon Kilham 1-7, Kitrell Lauray 1-7, Bryan Lockwood 1-5, Zac Cyr 1-3, Alex Hinkle 1-minus 1, Bryce Karsetter 1-minus 1
PASSING: Canton – Dugan Lloyd 3-9-1, 17; Jack Szczepanski 0-1-0; Cromwell/Portland – Bryce Karstetter 5-8-0, 99; Alex Hinkle 1-1-0, 11
RECEIVING: Canton – Gavin Wood 3-17; Cromwell/Portland – Dianta Highsmith 3-64, Alex Hinkle 1-48, Jon Siena 1-24, Ryan Yorkski 1-11, Shayze Updegraff 1-11
RETURNS: Jack Szczepanski (Canton) 5-31 (kickoffs), Lexus Torres (Canton) 1-5 kickoff, Joey Fitzgerald (Canton) 1-1 kickoff; Jack Rivette (Canton) 1-0 kickoff

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 30 years.

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