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BY ED WRIGHT
STAFF WRITER
As expected, it took
Canton's
rebuilt, inexperienced offensive line some time to adjust in
Friday night's season-opener against Ann Arbor Pioneer.
Two whole possessions.
Spearheaded by their new set of blockers, the Chiefs scored on
five of their first six drives on the way to a a 42-12 victory
over the visiting Pioneers.
After sitting in the garage for over nine months, Canton's
high-performance scoring machine picked up where it left off
last year, going from 0 to 40 (points) in just under three
quarters.
Canton's
defense was equally effective, holding the Pioneers to a measly
44 yards in the decisive first half.
"It's just man-up, power football," said Canton quarterback
Shawn Little, explaining his team's no-frills offense. "Our
offensive line is quick, strong and bigger than it was last
year. They did a great job of opening holes for the backs
tonight."
Little was nearly perfect after throwing a pick on his first
pass of the game. He finished 4-for-5 (48 yards) and added 49
yards rushing on five carries.
"I think five passes is the most I've ever thrown in a game
here," Little said, smiling, referring to the Chiefs' run-first
philosophy. "We don't throw much, but when we do it's almost
guaranteed to work because the other team has to play our
running game first."
The three-year starter at QB proved to be adept at running the
option, a new wrinkle
Canton
has added to its offense. On one play mid-way through the third
quarter, Little kept the ball until the last milli-second before
pitching it to Andy Rossow, who ran for 11 yards and a first
down.
Led by junior Deshon McClendon's 127 yards and three touchdowns,
the Chiefs amassed 370 yards on the ground. Matt Sweda chipped
in with 61 yards on four carries, Rossow had 58 on 11 attempts
and junior Chris Bogdanski chalked up 34 on six runs.
"Our O-line was awesome tonight," McClendon said, echoing
Little's thoughts. "I just hit the hole hard and try to get into
the secondary."
Canton
scored first with
5:28
left in the first quarter when McClendon scampered 26 yards to
paydirt. He shook off a face-mask at the 13 before finishing off
the run.
Behind the strong running of junior Richard Franklin, Pioneer
drove to the Canton 42 on its next possession, however,
Canton's
Matt Sweda scooped up a
Franklin
fumble to stamp out the drive.
The Chiefs doubled their advantage nine plays later when
McClendon carried three Pioneers into the end zone from two
yards out to make it 14-0. Little keyed the drive with runs of
10, 11 and 17 yards.
Rossow rumbled in from three yards out with 3:52 left in the
half to pad the lead to 21-0.
With 23 seconds remaining before intermission, Little hit a
sliding Rossow with a 20-yard pass at the goal line to give the
Chiefs an insurmountable 28-0 cushion.
Pioneer showed signs of life on its opening second-half
possession, which was climaxed by
Franklin's
three-yard TD run. He set up the score on the previous play when
he sprinted 72 yards down the sideline. The extra point was wide
left, leaving the score at 28-6.
Canton
retaliated swiftly, scoring on McClendon's third TD - this one
from three yards out - to make it 35-6.
The Chiefs' final tally came on Rossow's one-yard plunge with 58
seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Canton
kicker Colin O'Shaughnessy was 6-for-6 on extra-point attempts.
Jeff Piper, Donnie Laramie, Sweda and Ryan Jonik sparked the
Chiefs' swarming defense. Piper's hit on Pioneer quarterback
Pedro Amuda as he delivered a pass mid-way through the third
quarter resulted in a Bogdanski interception.
Kyle O'Niel,
Laramie
and Rossow recorded sacks for the Chiefs.
Canton
outgained the Pioneers, 418-218, in total yards.
Franklin
finished with 118 yards on 10 carries. Amuda went 8-for-15 for
94 yards.
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