STAFF WRITER

Canton's Andy Rossow didn't work at the concession stand during halftime of the Chiefs' opening-round playoff game against Belleville Friday night.

But the junior two-way standout did just about everything else in Canton's 42-6 Region 2, District 2 triumph over the Tigers.

Rossow rushed for 81 yards on just eight carries, ran in a two-point conversion, blocked an extra point and anchored the Chiefs' defensive line, which played a major role in limiting Belleville's Wing-T offense to just three first downs.

"Belleville's defense used a six-man front, so once our running backs got through the holes, there was a lot of open room to run," Rossow said. "Usually teams will mix up their fronts against us, but they stayed with the same one for most of the game."

Rossow lined up at a defensive-end position for the blocked kick, his second of the season.

"The key to blocking kicks is timing and speed," he said.

Rossow has both of those assets, plus versatility, said Canton coach Tim Baechler.

"Andy Rossow is one of those football players that you can put anywhere on the field and he'll do a great job," Baechler said. "He's all about effort. My defensive line coach says he's a defensive lineman who plays halfback."

The 10-0 Chiefs, who have now mercied nine straight opponents, will face possibly their stiffest test of the season Friday when they host 8-2 Novi. The Wildcats bounced Northville, 42-7, Friday night.

Belleville finished the season at 6-4.

"Canton ranks right up there with some of the best teams I've seen," Belleville coach Bob LaPointe said. "They have three really good running backs, an offensive line that gets good push off the ball and a couple of good linebackers, especially No. 12 (Jake Powers). We only had one first down in the first three quarters, so that tells you something."

Rossow was just one of many Chiefs who had a productive game Friday night. Chuck Schumacher picked up 92 with one touchdown, Julian Smith had three scores - two rushing and one receiving and 33 yards and Shawn Little played perhaps his best overall game of the season, running for 57 yards and throwing for 96 and a TD.

"Shawn struggled early on, but we kept going back to him and it paid off," Baechler said. "He needed a game like this for his confidence. We needed Shawn to make some plays and he did."

Defensively, the Chiefs' front four of Rossow, P.J. Caram, Donnie Laramie and Josh Perkovich had its way with the Tigers offensive line. When Canton's line didn't stuff Belleville's running game, Powers and fellow linebackers Jeff Hudson and Collin O'Shaughnessy usually cleaned up.

O'Shaughnessy subbed for regular starter Jeff Piper, who missed the game due to a hip ailment.

"He could have played, but we didn't want to risk anything," Baechler said. "He'll be back next week."

Canton's defense forced three turnovers: Powers recovered a fumble and Smith and David Neu intercepted passes.

Isaac Kindell provided a rare spark for the Tigers when he dashed 55 yards for their lone score with 6:12 remaining in the third quarter to cut their deficit to 28-6. Kindell, who also had two impressive special-teams returns, finished with 58 yards on eight attempts. Belleville quarterback Phil Sullens completed just one of eight passes for 12 yards.

Belleville had just one drive that lasted more than three offensive plays, and that occurred in the game's waning moments against the Chiefs' second-string defense.

Carlos Clark snuffed out one Canton drive three minutes into the second quarter when he intercepted a pass at the Chief 5 and returned it to the 20.

Canton won the total yards battle, 391-146. The Chiefs recorded 19 first downs compared to the Tigers' three.

The first quarter ended with no score when Belleville's Greg Manley corralled Smith for a two-yard loss on a fourth-and-two play at the Belleville 12. Canton had driven from its own 3, using 17 plays and over six minutes of the clock.

After forcing a Belleville punt, Canton scored on its next possession when Smith scored on a three-yard run to make it 6-0. Rossow ignited the five-play, 40-yard drive with a 22-yard run.

The Chiefs' special-teams unit accounted for their next TD. Deshon McClendon busted through the Tigers' offensive line to block a punt. The sophomore then pounced on the ball in the end zone to make it 12-0.

Canton went up 20-0 with 15 seconds remaining in the he first half when Little connected with Smith on a nine-yard touchdown pass. A Little-to-Powers pass on the two-point conversion made it 20-0. The touchdown was set up on a 30-yard strike from Little to Adam Hester on third-and-seven from mid-field.

The Chiefs scored on their first three possessions of the second half: Smith busted in from three yards out, Schumacher rambled nine yards to paydirt and McClendon had a one-yard score. The final TD was set up by an electrifying 43-yard punt return by Hester.

The field was blanketed by a layer of fog throughout the second half.