Trouble from the start Defending state champ Rockford thumps the Chiefs

DIVISION 1 SEMIFINALS

Sunday, November 19, 2006

BY ROB HOFFMAN

News Sports Reporter

LANSING - Entering Saturday's Division 1 semifinal against Rockford, Canton High School football coach Tim Baechler knew his team would have to pay perfectly against the two-time defending state champions.

They didn't. Not even close.

Two interceptions. Two fumbles. Several dropped passes that would have resulted in big gains. Drive-extending penalties.

And all the game's first 14 minutes.

Add it all up and you have the ingredients for a 30-0 Canton loss, ending the previously undefeated Chiefs' season on a painful note at Lansing Everett High School.

"Nothing happened for us,'' said Baechler, whose team lost to the Rams 31-21 in last year's state title game. "It's like bad day on the golf course where all your drives go into trees. It feels just like that today.''

The roof started caving in on Canton from the onset when the Chiefs drove all the way to Rockford 18 on their opening drive, only to fumble the ball away.

"That first turnover was critical,'' said Canton quarterback Steve Paye. "If we would have capitalized, it would have been a whole different game.''

The Rams responded by scoring a field goal, causing the Chiefs (12-1) to trail for the first time this year. After Canton went three and out, Rockford (12-1) marching 55 yards and seven plays to score the game's first touchdown - a drive that was prolonged by two Canton penalties.

Exploiting their speed advantage, the Ram opened with a no-huddle spread offense that the slower Chiefs had trouble stopping all game. Rockford quarterback Tom Fusee was 12-of-13 for 84 yards in the first half, while running back Zach Breen scored twice.

"They mixed up their offense a lot,'' said Canton tackle Donnie Laramie. "The outside play just killed us.''

Canton, which had just 13 turnovers in 12 games entering Saturday's action, committed three more on a fumble and two interceptions that Rockford's Callan Sherd returned into Canton territory. By halftime, it was 23-0 and the rout was more than under way.

Canton, a team that had been averaging more than 350 yards and 38 points per game, was limited to 186 yards of total offense and just nine first downs on the afternoon.

"I thought we could have gone all the way,'' Laramie said. "We just didn't play up to our potential today.''

In the other Division 1 semifinal Saturday, Macomb Dakota beat Warren Cousino 21-0. Dakota and Rockford will play for a state championship at 1 p.m. Nov. 25 at Ford Field in Detroit.

Rob Hoffman can be reached at rhoffman@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6814.