Glenn explosion rips Canton

By Brad Emons
Staff Writer

Westland John Glenn football coach Chuck Gordon obviously believes in the old sports cliche: "It's not how you start, but how you finish.''

Ironically, the Rockets started well and finished strong in its Western Lakes Activities Association football showdown Friday with Plymouth Canton.

Glenn broke away from an early 14-all third-quarter deadlock, exploding for 26 straight second-half points en route to a 46-21 victory over the Chiefs.

"I told our players that in big games it's not won in the first or second quarter, or even in the third quarter,'' said Glenn coach Chuck Gordon, whose team is 2-0 overall. "You have to be tough in the fourth quarter and that's where it will be decided.''

With the score tied at 14, the turning point occurred with just under three minutes to go in the third quarter.

Canton lined up at the Glenn 46 on fourth-and-2 when the Chiefs were whistled for a 5-yard illegal procedure call.

Forced to punt, Glenn junior Matt Smitherman made a nifty 46-yard return to set up his own go-ahead touchdown, a 26-yard burst with 2:19 left in the period. Will Kennedy's extra point made it 21-14 for the Rockets, who proceeded to go on a tear.

Glenn reeled off 19 more points to start the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach before Canton could answer.

Linebacker Jon Reid recovered a Canton fumble, one of six turnovers on the night for the Chiefs, to set up Brian Ceckiewicz's 47-yard TD toss to sophomore Jerret Smith. That made it 28-14.

After Glenn's Alex Jachym stuffed Reggie Joyner for a loss on fourth-and-1 at the Chiefs' own 29, Glenn senior tailback Anthony Davis followed with a 23-yard TD run to make it 34-14 with 8:44 to go.

Glenn defensive back De'Anthony Granberry then picked off a Canton pass and ran 72 yards for a TD to make it 40-14 with 8:15 to go.

Canton got on the board with 5:07 remaining on a 4-yard run by Joyner, but the damage had been done.

Davis, who finished with 157 yards on 17 carries and four TDs, then ripped through the Canton defense for 91 yards to complete the scoring with three minutes to go.

"We had the early momentum, then they (Canton) had it, then things erupted for us in the fourth quarter where we had several big plays in a row,'' said Gordon, who notched his 196th career win. "The return by Smitherman was a big spark, and then he scores on that possession.

"We feel we have three guys (Granberry, Davis and Smitherman) who can carry the ball, but we're not going to keep them all happy. But if we're winning, we'll keep everybody happy and the credit goes all around.''

Canton actually outgained Glenn in total yards, 290-288. And the Chiefs ran a total of 61 plays to Glenn's 40.

But it was simply not Chiefs' night as they spotted the Rockets a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter before fans had settled in their seats.

Canton fumbled on its first play from scrimmage and Glenn responded as Davis, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior, ran five times capped by a 3-yard TD.

Jerret Smith then picked off a Canton pass, but the Rockets were unable to convert.

But on Glenn's next series, Davis capped a seven-play, 71-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run. Kennedy followed with the extra point to make it 14-0 with 1:20 to go in the first.

Canton got untracked offensively in the second quarter with a 95-yard, 12-play drive as Travis McKinney scored on a 1-yard run to cut the deficit to 14-6. The Chiefs did not convert the extra point with 18 seconds left due to a bad snap, but trailed by only eight at intermission, 14-6.

Canton took advantage of Glenn's first of two second-half turnovers when Matt Perino picked off a pass at the Glenn 15. Devin Thomas, who rushed for 67 yards on eight carries, then scored from 2 yards out. Quarterback Dave Nicoloff hit a wide-open Joyner on the two-point play to knot the score at 14-all with 9:46 left in the third.

Glenn then fumbled again at the Canton 46, but the Chiefs came up empty following the key procedure infraction.

"Luckily we came back, but I can't tell you have disappointed I am,'' said Canton coach Tim Baechler, whose team is 1-1 after shutting out Ann Arbor Pioneer the week before, 10-0. "Give them (John Glenn) credit, they blocked well and we didn't get off our blocks well. We're not used to people doing that to us.''

Canton, using the Wing-T attack, rushed for 242 yards in 53 attempts on the ground, but completed only three of nine passes for 64 yards.

"With what they do offensively, you've got to twist, stunt and blitz - try and blow up the play before it forms because they're very good at their scheme,'' Gordon said.

Meanwhile, Baechler is searching for some answers before next week's game with Wayne Memorial.

"Our inexperienced kids are doing all right, but it's our seniors who did not step up on offense,'' he said. "We've got problems right now. Maybe we'll call up some JV kids.''

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