Canton is too much for Saline

November 11, 2006

BY TOM LANG

FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER

Three Saline turnovers.

Three Canton touchdowns.

That was the difference in Friday night's Division 1 regional final, won by Canton in an offensive explosion, 56-36.

After Canton scored on the opening drive, a traditional eight-play, 80-yard type capped by a three-yard run by Antwaun Hawkins, the Chiefs scored their next three touchdowns off turnovers to take a 28-0 lead that couldn't be overcome.

"Those turnovers meant a lot," said Canton quarterback Steve Paye, starting his fourth game this season. "If that wasn't the case, it might have been a different game."

Saline had not turned the ball over in the first seven games of the season. But when Canton's Dan Wanshon intercepted Kyle Brown and returned it 27 yards, it set up a 38-yard drive topped by Nick Moores' two-yard touchdown run with 3:23 left in the first quarter.

On the next possession, Saline (9-3) drove to the Canton 10 before fumbling. Moores (21 carries, 207 yards) later scored on a 12-yard run. Soon after, Brown was hit from behind on a passing play. The fumble was scooped up by Canton's Chris Haase, who ran 28 yards for the third touchdown off turnovers. From that point, every time a team took possession of the ball, it scored.

There were no punts in the game.

The halftime score was 35-10 -- thanks to Moores' third touchdown, a Saline TD that Brown ran in from the 1 and a 37-yard field goal by Brown.

In the second half, Saline scored three times on Brown passes: 22 yards to Casey Dishman, 37 yards to Mike Adler and 25 yards to Austin Trott. Vince Helmuth also tallied on a two-yard run. Brown finished 20-for-32 for 320 yards.

Canton (12-0) scored three times: a five-yard run by Deshon McClendon, a 25-yard rush by Hawkins (21 carries, 120 yards) and a three-yard scamper by Paye. The Chiefs had 483 yards of offense.

"The offensive line allowed us to move the ball at a steady pace," Paye said. "That's what helped us. We didn't have to give up the ball."

Saline tried three onside kicks, but Canton was awarded the ball each time, including two controversial calls on which it was ruled that the ball didn't travel 10 yards before being touched.

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