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But Canton's defense was enough to carry it to a season-opening 10-0 football triumph over Ann Arbor Pioneer Friday at Pioneer.

The Chiefs' offense certainly didn't help its defense. They fumbled the ball eight times, losing five of them, and they also had a punt blocked.

"It was messy," said Canton assistant coach Tony Bouchler. "There were a lot of (first-game) nerves, but they got a lot of game experience.

Indeed it was. The Pioneers could get nothing going on the ground, rushing the ball 23 times for just 14 yards. They weren't a great deal better through the air, passing the ball 22 times and completing 11 for 108 yards while throwing two interceptions.

The game was scoreless through the first half. Canton's first score came with 2:51 left in the third quarter, after the Chiefs had jockeyed for field position and drove the ball near the Pioneer 20.

On fourth-down-and-3, Ankit Kachal drilled a 39-yard field goal and Canton had a 3-0 lead. It wouldn't be the only time the Chiefs faced a fourth-and-3 deep in Pioneers' end.

With 10 minutes to go in the final quarter, Canton faced that situation again at Pioneer's 22. This time, Chiefs' coach Tim Baechler opted to go for it, with senior tailback Reggie Joyner getting the handoff. Joyner gained the yards needed, giving Canton a first down at Pioneer's 18.

Two plays with a penalty left the Chiefs facing a third-down-and-8 at the 16. This time, the ball went to Brandon Wilcox, who broke it for a 16-yard touchdown run to make it 10-0 (with Kachal's placement) with 9:09 left.

Canton's defense took command after that, refusing to let the Pioneers on the scoreboard. Their best scoring chance in the final minutes when they drove to the Chiefs' 28. Two penalties left them facing a third-and-18; their ensuing pass was intercepted by Ryan Edwards with 1:30 left, assuring the victory.

Edwards paced the Canton defense with nine tackles to go with his pickoff. Matt Bennett totaled seven tackles and a quarterback sack (Canton had three in the game), Mike Lafata had eight tackles, and Franz Gatske contributed seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Matt Perino also intercepted a pass for the Chiefs.

Joyner paced a Canton offense that gained 194 rushing yards on 50 carries; he finished with 127 yards on 19 tries. Wilcox had 45 yards on nine attempts, but quarterback Dave Nicoloff was 0-for-4 passing.

It will take that kind of defensive effort -- and a lot better offense -- for the Chiefs to survive next week's test against Westland John Glenn.

South Lyon 21, Salem 7: The Rocks got off to a rough start Friday at South Lyon, and by the time they got things turned around, they didn't have the firepower to offset an early two-touchdown deficit.

Nate Spurgess proved to be the thorn in Salem's side. The Lions' fullback rambled for 170 yards on 16 attempts, busting one long TD run in the first half and adding a shorter, clinching score late in the second.

"Our first half was really poor," said Salem coach Bob Cummings. "There were some first-game jitters. In the third quarter, we played much better.

"We dominated the third quarter."

Matt Trublowski scored the Rocks' only TD midway through the third quarter, narrowing South Lyon's lead to 14-7. But, handicapped by costly penalties, that was as close as Salem would get.

After Spurgess broke loose for the Lions' first touchdown, a Rocks' fumble at their own 15 set up a second, this one scored on a pass.

Salem has its home opener Friday against Livonia Churchill.