Despite running the ball well, Canton can’t catch up with Coventry co-op squad

Canton’s Carter Gavin (21) ran for a team-high 167 yards in Friday night’s loss to the Coventry co-op squad.

COVENTRY, September 21 – Canton’s Carter Gavin ran for a season-high 167 yards on 15 carries and the Warriors sliced a 20-point lead to four but they couldn’t catch Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton/Lyman Memorial in a 26-22 loss Friday night in Pequot Conference action.

Canton (0-3, 0-2 Pequot Uncas) scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns on a two-yard run from Joey Fitzgerald and a 54-yard run from quarterback Dugan Lloyd. Fitzgerald successfully scored on two-point conversion runs after both scores to reduce the Patriots’ 26-6 lead to four points, 26-22.

The host Patriots (3-0, 2-0 Pequot Uncas) were able to run out the clock thanks in part to an defensive offsides penalty on fourth down with 1:40 remaining that enabled Coventry to keep possession of the ball.

“It was a tough loss but we are growing and maturing as a football team,” Canton coach Dante Boffi said. “We moved the ball up and down the field all game but penalties and turnovers hurt us. We’re close but not quite there yet.”

Canton ran for a season-high 349 yards led by Gavin. Lloyd rushed for 100 yards while Nathan Biega scrambled for 59 yards on seven carries. The Patriots did intercept Lloyd twice.

Defensively, Canton also had a pair of interceptions. Gavin had an interception and returned it 60 yards while Malique Thompson also picked off a pass.

Canton returns to action on Saturday when they travel to Winsted to face Gilbert/Northwestern (1-2, 0-2) at Van Why Field at 1 p.m.

Coventry co-op 26, Canton 22
At Coventry
Canton (0-3)                                            6  0  0  16 — 22
Coventry/WT/Bolton/Lyman (3-0)  14  6  6    0 — 26
First quarter
Cov: Kaleb Carlson 7 run (Raven Grunberg kick)
Can: Nate Biega 2 run (run fails)
Cov: Zach Martin 80 kickoff (Grunberg kick)
Second quarter
Cov: xxxxx 6 run (kick fails)
Third quarter
Cov: Jordan Smith 27 run (run fails)
Fourth quarter
Can: Joey Fitzgerald 2 run (Fitzgerald run)
Can: Dugan Lloyd 54 run (Fitzgerald run)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Canton – Carter Gavin 15-167, Dugan Lloyd 7-100, Nathan Biega 7-59, Joey Fitzgerald 5-13, Braydon Fluckinger 4-10; Coventry/WT –Team 44-237
PASSING: Canton – Dugan Lloyd 2-12-2, 24; Coventry/WT – Devin Grover 2-5-2, 21
RECEIVING: Canton – Collin Mackin 1-22, Gavin Wood 1-2
INTERCEPTIONS: Malique Thompson (Canton); Carter Gavin (Canton) 1-60