Staff Writer

With his football team only ahead 14-6 at halftime against host Wayne Memorial, Canton coach Tim Baechler needed only a comment from his team statistician to pinpoint what was wrong.

"I only see the guy once a week on Friday nights, but he said to me, 'Coach, we just don't look as intense. They didn't look like they were ready.'

"I got after them right then and there."

Whatever Baechler said at intermission translated into 28 unanswered points as the unbeaten Chiefs steamed to their fourth straight win, a 42-6 triumph over the Zebras, who fell to 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the Western Division of the Western Lakes Activities Association.

After tailback Julian Smith carried much of the rushing load in the opening half for Canton with 12 carries for 109 and two touchdowns, fullback Chuck Schumacher continued in the second half with nine carries for 108 yards and two TDs.

"We had 38 plays to their 12 and we didn't have to punt, which is beautiful, but the score was only 14-6,'' Baechler said. "We didn't make a play in the air like we had hoped, but we moved and possessed the ball. We just didn't cash in.''

Offensive line coach Bob Williams, who has been on Baechler's staff all seven years, also made another suggestion at the half.

"I don't talk to him enough, but he said we could run this play, it was right there," Baechler said. "We were able to make a great adjustment at halftime. That play really worked for us. They couldn't stop the fullback off tackle and Chuck ran hard."

Much of the credit goes to the offensive line led by returning center Russ Bruner, along with tight ends Jake Powers and Brian Rider, along with interior blockers Kevin Pruett, Eric Kilijanczyk, Fred Keena and Matt D'Avanzo.

"Some of those guys are seniors who backed up last year," Baechler said. "They paid their dues in the weight room during the off-season because they were hungry to play."

Canton's first drive of the opening quarter was stymied by an interception by Terrill Ford, but the Chiefs scored on their next possession, a 3-yard run by the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Smith, who finished with 12 carries for 116 yards.

The Chiefs scored again with 5:34 left in the third period on Smith's 22-yard TD run, but Wayne countered on an electrifying 59-yard run by junior Blaine Simmons. Canton's Andy Rossow blocked to the extra point to make it 14-6.

Canton drove the ball again down to the Wayne 19, but couldn't convert on fourth-and-10.

"We were playing great, the game plan was outstanding and I thought we had something going when Blaine broke away,'' Wayne coach Craig Hnatuk said.

The third quarter was all Canton as the Chiefs got a 3-yard TD run by Deshon McClendon followed by Schumacher's 1-yard run to make it 28-6.

Canton defensive back Jeff Hudson had an interception return for a TD, going 20 yards with 11:06 left in the final quarter. Schumacher completed the scoring with a 46-yard burst with 7:32 to go as Collin O'Shaughnessy booted his sixth straight extra point to invoke the 35-point mercy rule and a running clock.

The final statistics also told the tale as Canton racked 408 total yards, 382 on the ground, while Wayne was limited to 124 total. The Chiefs also had 21 first downs to Wayne's four.

"They're better defensively this year than last year,'' said Hnatuk, whose team fell to 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the Western Division. "We were there to win. And if we get a first down, they don't touch the football. But they're so good at what they do. They just wear you down.''