'We'll get better from it,' Baechler vows

Saturday, November 15, 2003

The Canton High School football team's 38-7 loss to Detroit Catholic Central was the second time in as many years the Chiefs have seen their season come to an end at the hands of the Shamrocks.

Canton coach Tim Baechler chalks it up as one more lesson for his aspiring powerhouse of a program. The Chiefs are 37-9 over the past four seasons.

"We'll learn and get better from it," Baechler said. "(Catholic Central) is a very good team. When Farmington Hills Harrison was in our conference they pounded us and we grew because of it."

Harrison beat Canton in nine consecutive Western Lakes Activities Association games before moving to the Oakland Activities Association prior to the 2002 season.

Doman hurt

Whitmore Lake junior defensive end Joe Doman went down with a knee injury midway through the second quarter, and that may have hampered the Trojan defense a little bit.

"He is a very dominant football player, and that really hurt," coach Ed Schindler said.

Doman walked off the field mostly under his own power. Schindler said after the game the injury is suspected to be a sprained ligament in his left knee.

Freshman praise

Deshon McClendon didn't see a lot of action during Canton's playoff run, but senior captain Franz Gatzke gives the freshman running back plenty of credit for the Chiefs' early success. McClendon was called up from the freshman roster and made an impression on the scout team, helping defense prepare for the good backs it would face in the playoffs.

"It was important to practice against someone as quick as him," Gatzke said. "He came up and gave us a great look. He came to play. He didn't come up to just mess around and earn a varsity letter."

Compiled by News Sports Reporters Rich Rezler and Corey Roepken