Call it a case of first-game jitters.

Pioneer and Canton High School's football teams combined for seven turnovers in the first half Friday, including four lost fumbles and one interception by the Chiefs. But neither team was able to capitalize on the mistakes.

In the second half, Canton finally held onto the ball and got strong running from senior halfback Reggie Joyner en route to a 10-0 win in the season openers for both teams.

Canton coach Tim Baechler said Pioneer's defense confused the Chiefs (1-0) in the first half.

"The scheme they ran was something we just did not expect," he said. "We got outcoached in the first half offensively and got outplayed too. They had a huge defensive line. Our guys are strong and quick, but they're not that big."

Pioneer coach Chuck White said he was shocked with how his defense was able to force turnovers.

"Trying to force turnovers has been an emphasis for us," he said. "I think this is way out of character for Plymouth. This may be an early season kind of thing, but I'd like to think we had something to do with it."

The Pioneers (0-1) got a golden opportunity early in the first quarter when they recovered a fumble at the Canton 47-yard line. However, they gained just three yard on a pass play from senior quarterback Oseloka Keys to tight end Andre Bouldin and were forced to punt.

Canton put together a long drive, moving the ball on the ground 75 yards to the Pioneer 12. Joyner, who finished with 123 yards on 19 carries, carried the ball six times for 44 yards on the drive. However, on the 13th play of the drive, Travis McKinney fumbled the ball and Pioneer recovered.

Again, Pioneer couldn't move the ball and had to punt. Later in the second quarter, Canton was threatening to score when Pioneer's Ben Porath intercepted a pass from senior quarterback Dave Nicoloff and returned it 35 yards to the Pioneer 35.

The Pioneers didn't capitalize, but got the ball right back when Scott Martin recovered a fumble by Canton's Brandon Wilcox. After Pioneer gained 6 yards on first down, Canton's Matt Perino broke up a potential touchdown pass. Pioneer turned the ball over on downs.

Kicker Ankit Kachhal finally got the Chiefs on the board with a 39-yard field goal with 2:55 left in the third. Brandon Wilcox extended Canton's lead to 10-0 with a 16-yard touchdown run at 9:29 of the fourth.

Dave Kunst gave the Pioneers hope when he blocked Kachhal's punt with 3:01 left in the game. Pioneer moved the ball to the 19-yard line before Canton's Chris Snider striped Keys of the ball and recovered it with 1:15 left.

Monica Pugno can be reached at (734) 994-6812 or mpugno@annarbornews.com.