Vinal Tech 39, Canton 9
At Middletown
Canton (2-9) 0 3 0 6 – 9
Vinal/Cog (6-5) 8 16 15 0 – 39
First quarter
VT: Andrew Cruz 1 run (Mark Flannery run), 5:36
Second quarter
C: Jeff Nasson 20 FG, 9:30
VT: Cruz 6 run (Cruz run), 8:45
VT: Eddy Ruddy 14 pass from Jim Sherer (Jeff Tiedemann pass from Sherer), 0:30
Third quarter
VT: Cruz 19 run (Tiedemann run), 9:43
VT: Nick D’Aquila 4 run (Ruddy kick), 5:51
Fourth quarter
C: Mike Frazier 8 run (kick fails), 0:27
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Canton – Mike Frazier 23-123, Nick Grabowski 13-51, Luke Talbot 12-55; Vinal Tech/Coginchaug – Conor Finley 5-minus 9, Dan Fonseca 1-2, Eddy Ruddy 1-3, Mark Flannery 9-78, Nick D’Aquila 11-146, Andrew Cruz 7-50, Jim Sherer 1-17
PASSING: Canton – Grabowski 6-14-2, 87, Talbot 1-1-0, 8; Vinal/Coginchaug -- Jim Sherer 3-5-0, 40; Conor Finley 2-4-0, 32
RECEIVING: Canton – Tyler Plourd 4-57, Nick Quattro 2-26, Justin Prosser 1-12; Vinal/Coginchaug – Jeff Tiedemann 2-28, Eddy Ruddy 2-42, D’Aquila 1-4
RETURNS: Kickoffs – Nick Quattro (Canton) 5-73; Jeremy Newell (VT) 1-0, D’Aquila (VT) 1-18, Steve Santoro (VT) 1-0
INTERCEPTIONS: Travis Newell (VT) 1-14, Jeff Tiedemann (VT) 1-5; FUMBLE RECOVERY: Tyler Plourd (Canton); SACK: Vinal 1 (team)
Individual leaders
Final, 11 games
RUSHING Att-Yds TDs
Frazier
143-680 7
Grabowski 103-438 4
Talbot 72-322 4
Jones 21-75 0
Cole 3-35 0
Prosser 8-13 0
Others: Getler 4-4, Plourd 1-1, Quattro 2-minus 1, Bento 1-minus 1, Durbois 1-minus 5
PASSING C-Att-Int Yds TDs
Grabowski 62-138-10 849 3
Talbot 7-14-3 87 1
RECEIVING C-Yds TD
Plourd 37-443 1
Quattro 9-144 1
Talbot 9-108 1
Cole 5-140 1
Haller 5-64 0
Getler 2-15 0
Prosser 1-12 0
POINTS
TDs PAT 2pt Pts
Frazier 7-0 0 1 42
Talbot 4-1 0 0 30
Grabowski 4-0 0 1 26
Nasson* 0-0 11 0 20
Plourd 0-1 0 1 8
Cole 0-1 0 0 6
Quattro 0-1 0 0 6
f-Scott 0-0 0 0 6
*Includes 3 FG, f-fumble rec
FIELD GOALS: Nasson (25, 27, 20)
PATS: Nasson 11-15
Defense
Interceptions (7):Grabowski, Plourd 4, Prosser 2-8
Fumble recovery (12): Haller 2, Prosser 2, Getler, Jones, Plourd 2, Grabowski, Balavander, Scott, Talbot
SACKS (11): Getler 2.5-22, Prosser 2, Nate Scott 4, Bevalander 1.5-10, Plourd 1-15
Canton 38, Gilbert 12
At Winsted
Canton (2-8) 20 11 0 7 -- 38
Gilbert (4-6) 0 8 6 0 – 12
First quarter
C: Luke Talbot 14 run (kick fails), 8:49
C: Talbot 15 run (Nick Grabowski run), 5:49
C: Nate Scott recovers fumble in end zone (kick fails), 3:34
Second quarter
C: Mike Frazier 2 run (Grabowski run), 8:15
G: Drew McCarthy 65 kickoff return (Jay Farkas run), 8:05
C: Jeff Nasson 27 FG, 0:15
Third quarter
G: Jay Farkas 40 run (run fails), 9:06
Fourth quarter
C: Talbot 68 run (Nasson kick), 3:01
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Gilbert – Paul Kurtz 2-minus 7, Jay Farkas 12-99, Bob Lippincott 1-minus 11, Devin Morgan 5-16, Cody Stone 7-67, Derrick Zima 1-1, Kyle Jones 1-2, Drew McCarthy 2-0; Canton – Luke Talbot 13-125, Mike Frazier 17-73, Nick Grabowski 11-28, Nick Quattro 1-minus 5, Kyle Bento 1-minus 1
PASSING: Gilbert – Kurtz 4-11-2, 38; Canton – Nick Grabowski 6-13-0, 79, Talbot 0-1
RECEIVING: Gilbert – Geoff Cerosoli 1-2, Stone 3-33; Canton – Tyler Plourd 4-48, Nick Quattro 1-11
SACKS: Nate Getler and Ethan Balavender (C) 1-10; Kyle Jones and Bobby Lippincott (G) 1-10; INTERCEPTIONS: Justin Prosser (Canton) 2-8; FUMBLE REC: Grabowski (Can), Balavender (Can), Nate Scott (Can), Talbot (Can), Farkas (G), Sean Fitzgerald (G)
RETURNS: Punts – Grabowski (Can) 1-2; Kickoffs – Plourd (Can) 3-69, Devin Morgan (G) 1-12, Cody Stone (G) 3-78, Drew McCarthy (G) 1-65
Old Saybrook 36, CHS 16
At Old Saybrook
Canton 0 8 0 8 -- 16
Old Saybrook 8 8 6 14 -- 36
First quarter
OS: Alex Dyer 5 run (Dyer run)
Second quarter
OS: Cameron Shea 16 pass from John Mooney (Dyer run)
C: Mike Frazier 1 run (Nick Grabowski run)
Third quarter
OS: Addison Moran 34 pass from Cameron Dunlap (run fails)
Fourth quarter
OS: Matt Bowes 2 run (Jon McKenna kick)
C: Nick Quattro 50 pass from Luke Talbot (Tyler Plourd from Grabowski)
OS: Alex Dyer 7 run (McKenna kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Frazier 18-60, Grabowski 9-37, Prosser 2-minus 1, Talbot 1-0, Quattro 1-4, Plourd 1-1, Getler 1-3
PASSING: Grabowski 11-21-1, 109; Talbot 1-1-0, 50; Plourd 0-1
RECEIVING: Quattro 4-68, Plourd 4-52, Talbot 2-14, Heller 2-25
Fumble recovery: Plourd 1, Prosser 1; Interceptions: none; Sacks: Bento 1-5, Getler 1-5
Tolland 43, Canton 8
At Canton
Tolland (7-2)23 7 7 6 -- 43
Canton (1-7) 0 0 0 8 – 8
First quarter
T: Joe Michanczyk 40 interception (Kevin Rioux run)
T: Rioux 22 run (Devon Roper pass from Sal Ternullo)
T: Rioux 23 run (Ternullo kick)
Second quarter
T: Matt Fox 5 run (Ternullo kick)
Third quarter
T: Luke Halgren 15 run (Ternullo kick)
Fourth quarter
T: Halgren 62 run (run fails)
C: Mike Frazer 20 run (Frazer run)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Canton -- Mike Frazier 11-49, Nick Grabowski 5-24, Luke Talbot 2-11, Justin Prosser 1-minus 3
PASSING: Canton -- Grabowski 4-12-1, 36; Talbot 0-1-1, 0
RECEIVING: Plourd 2-31, Quattro 1-17, Talbot 1-minus 2
No sacks, interceptions or fumble recoveries by Canton
Avon 34, Canton 0
At Canton
Avon (6-2)0 14 6 14 -- 34
Canton (1-6) 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Second quarter
A: Mike D’Onofrio 55 pass from Andy Livingstone (Dave Wyrick kick)
A: M. D’Onofrio 15 run (Wyrick kick)
Third quarter
A: M. D’Onofrio 5 run (kick wide)
Fourth quarter
A: M. D’Onofrio 4 run (Wyrick kick)
A: Ross McDonald 64 run (Wyrick kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Avon – Pat Leszczynski 2-3, Ross McDonald 9-95, Mike D’Onofrio 19-95, Vince Savarese 2-22, Andy Livingstone 2-13; Canton – Nick Grabowski 11-minus 9, Greg Cole 1-2, Luke Talbot 8-17, Mike Frazer 20-79, Joshia Durbois 1-minus 5
PASSING: Avon – Andy Livingstone 6-8-0, 101; Canton – Nick Grabowski 5-11-0, 38
RECEIVING: Avon – Mike D’Onofrio 3-70, John Ponziani 1-13, Stolzenberg 1-7, Tyler D’Onofrio 1-11; Canton – Tyler Plourd 2-21, Luke Talbot 2-13, Greg Cole 1-4
RETURNS: Canton – Plourd 3-39 (kickoffs), Nick Quattro 3-18 (kickoffs); Avon – Mike Dugan 1-0 (kickoffs), Mike D’Onofrio 2-9 (punts)
SACKS: Avon – Mitch McPherson ½ -1, D.J. McDonald 2 ½ -18, Mike Dugan ½ -14
Penalties: Avon 4-50, Canton 1-15
Stafford 11, Canton 10
At Stafford
Canton (1-5)3 0 7 0 – 10
Stafford (1-4)0 0 4 7 – 11
First quarter
C: Jeff Nasson 25 FG
Third quarter
S: Safety -- P Nate Scott tackled in end zone
S: Safety -- QB Nick Grabowski tackled in end zone
C: Luke Talbot 2 run (Nasson kick)
Fourth quarter
S: Tucker Fontanella 3 run (Ben Tweedle kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Luke Talbot 11-23, Nick Grabowski 5-23, Richard Jones 12-34, Greg Cole 2-33
PASSING: Nick Grabowski 7-18-2, 163
RECEIVING: Nick Quattro 1-22, Greg Cole 2-105, Tyler Plourd 3-18, Nate Haller 1-18
SACKS: Ethan Bevalander 1
INTERCEPTIONS: Tyler Plourd 4
FUMBLE REC: Nate Haller, Richard Jones
Housatonic 43, Canton 21
At Falls Village
Canton (1-4) 0 7 7 7 – 21
Housatonic (1-4) 14 29 0 0 – 43
First quarter
H: Will Kennedy 16 run (Tanner Brissett run)
H: Kennedy 53 run (run failed)
Second quarter
H: Trevor Watts 15 pass from Brissett (Kennedy run)
C: Greg Cole 32 pass from Nick Grabowski (Jeff Nasson kick)
H: Sam Cadman 87 kickoff (Kennedy run)
H: Brissett 47 run (kick failed)
H: Eric Avery 15 run (Lodevole kick)
Third quarter
C: Grabowski 7 run (Nasson kick)
Fourth quarter
C: Tyler Plourd 19 pass from Grabowski (Nasson kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Canton – Rich Jones 8-36, Luke Talbot 5-30, Grabowski 6-25, Nick Quattro 3-0, Nate Heller 2-minus 2; Housatonic/Wamogo – Brissett 8-87, Kennedy 14-168, Dom Ghi 1-0, Jake Foley 1-minus 1, Sam Schwartz 3-minus 2, Don Wright 2-minus 4, Eric Avery 7-31, Watts 1-3
PASSING: Canton – Grabowski 10-20-1, 164; Housatonic/Wamogo – Kennedy 0-1, Brissett 1-1, 15
RECEIVING: Canton – Tyler Plourd 7-111, Greg Cole 1-32, Nate Haller 2-21; Housatonic/Wamogo – Watts 1-15
Valley Reg. 42, Canton 0
At Deep River
Canton (1-3) 0 0 0 0 – 0
VR/OL (2-2)14 7 14 7 – 42
First quarter
VR: Oliver Gregan 8 pass from Logan Whaley (Jack Duggan kick)
VR: Nadrian Campbell 1 run (Duggan kick)
Second quarter
VR: Campbell 30 run (Duggan kick)
Third quarter
VR: Richie Mau 40 run (Duggan kick)
VR: Campbell 34 pass from Whaley (Duggan kick)
Fourth quarter
VR: Mitchell King 37 pass from Whaley (Duggan kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Richie Mau (VR) 125; Nadrian Campbell (VR) 10-74; Canton -- Mike Frazier 17-49, Justin Prosser 5-17, Luke Talbot 4-minus 6, Nate Getler 1-minus 3, Rich Jones 1-5, Nick Grabowski 2-26
PASSING: LoganWhaley (VR) 5-11-0, 72; Canton -- Nick Grabowski 1-1-0, 10, Luke Talbot 4-9-2, 22
RECEIVING: Canton -- Tyler Plourd 5-32
Ellington/Som 41, CHS 14
At Canton
Ellington (4-0) 14 7 14 6 – 41
Canton (1-2) 0 0 0 14 – 14
First quarter
E: Sam Ziter 38 pass from Peter Vamvillis (D.J. Hartman kick)
E: Shane Hatheway 28 pass from Vamvillis (Hartman kick)
Second quarter
E: Hatheway 10 run (Hartman kick)
Third quarter
E: Cody Anseimo 65 kickoff return (Hartman kick)
E: Ziter 5 run (Hartman kick)
Fourth quarter
C: Luke Talbot 75 pass from Nick Grabowski (Jeff Nasson kick)
E: Tyler Stroogoff 14 pass from Vamvillis (kick failed)
C: Grabowski 7 run (Nisson kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Sam Ziter (E) 126 yards; Canton -- Mike Frazier 15-87, Nick Grabowski 15-72, Luke Talbot 1-1
PASSING: Peter Vamvillis (E) 11-23-0, 238; Canton -- Nick Grabowski 6-10-0, 94
RECEIVING: Canton -- Luke Talbot 3-73, Tyler Plourd 2-22, Greg Cole 1-minus 1
INTERCEPTIONS: Nick Grabowski (C) 1; SACKS: Justin Prosser (C) 2, Nate Scott (C); FUMBLE RECOVERY: Nate Getler (C)
Canton 20, WL/Suffield 0
At Canton
Wind Locks/Suff (0-3) 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Canton (1-1) 7 0 7 6 -- 20
First quarter
C: Nick Grabowski 9 run (Jeff Nasson kick)
Third quarter
C: Mike Fraser 43 run (Nasson kick)
Fourth quarter
C: Grabowski 2 run (kick failed)
Individual results
RUSHING: Canton – Nick Grabowski 12-65, Mike Frazier 10-105, Luke Talbott 3-40
PASSING: Canton – Grabowski 1-4-0, 26
RECEIVING: Canton – Tyler Plourd 1-26
Fumble recovery: Justin Prosser (C); SACKS: Nate Schott 3
Coventry/WT 39, CHS 14
At Canton
Cov/WT (1-0)6 6 14 13 -- 39
Canton (0-1)0 7 0 7 – 14
First quarter
Cov -- Tyler Williams 1 run (pass fails), 3:13
Second quarter
Can -- Michael Frazer 1 run (Jeff Nasson kick), 11:40
Cov – Justin Gillette 38 pass from Stephen Trottier (run fails), 1:10
Third quarter
Cov – John Chevalier 26 pass from Trottier (run fails), 6:01
Cov – Trottier 7 pass from Campbell (Trottier run), 1:30
Fourth quarter
Can – Frazer 11 run (Nasson kick), 11:30
Cov – Campbell 85 kickoff (run fails), 11:36
Cov – Gillette 1 run (Gillette kick), 2:00
Individual statistics
RUSHING – Canton: Nick Grabowski 14-66, Luke Talbot 2-3, Michael Fraser 12-55, Nate Getler 2-4; Coventry/WT: Justin Gillette 20-91, Tyler Campbell 15-33, Nicholas Follansbee 4-19, Stephen Trottier 2-10
PASSING – Canton: Grabowski 5-14-3, 43 yards; Coventry/WT: Campbell 5-6-0, 37; Trottier 2-2-0, 64
RECEIVING – Canton: Tyler Plourd 3-25, Getler 2-15, Talbot 1-10; Coventry/WT: Trottier 5-37, Gillette 1-38, John Chevalier 1-26
RETURNS: Kickoffs – Nathan Scott (Can) 2-20, Justin Prosser (Can) 1-40, Nate Haller (Can) 1-16, Dylan Smith (Can) 1-0, Kyle Bower (Can) 1-0, Tomas Cruz (Can) 1-0; Trottier (Cov/WT) 1-21, Campbell (Cov/WT) 1-85; Punts – Plourd (Can) 1-8, Campbell (Cov/WT) 1-15
PUNTING: Grabowski (Can) 2-56
SACKS: Getler (Can) 1-7, Craig Hendrel (Cov/WT) 1-12
FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Nate Haller (Can) 1, Travis Messier (Cov/WT) 1
Penalties: Canton 11-80, Coventry 8-75
Vinal/Coginchaug express too hard to stop
MIDDLETOWN, Nov. 26 – Nick D’Aquila ran for a game-high 146 yards and a TD on 11 caries to lead Vinal Tech/Coginchaug to its first-ever winning season (6-5) with a Thanksgiving Eve victory over Canton at muddy Palmer Field Wednesday night. Hawks teammate Andrew Cruz scored 3 TDs and rushed for 50 yards.
Canton (2-9) was able to move the ball on offense but struggled to stop Vinal’s running attack, giving up several big plays. For the Warriors, Mike Frazier had a career-high 123 yards on 23 carries and a TD. Jeff Nasson kicked his third FG of the season from 20 yards away. Tyler Plourd caught four passes for 57 yards and recovered a fumble on a punt.
Vinal took an 8-0 after marching 51 yards on its opening drive with a big 16-yard run from D’Aquila up the middle. Canton responded with a 15-play, 67-yard scoring drive with Nasson kicking a 20 yard FG. Canton converted on third down four times in the drive to cut the Hawk lead to five, 8-3. But Vinal responded with a 51-yard run from D’Aquila and a six-yard TD run by Cruz to take a 16-3 lead.
Canton nearly had Vinal stopped late in the second quarter but the Hawks converted on fourth down and goal from the Hawk 14-yard line when QB Jim Sherer found WR Eddy Ruddy open in the end zone with 30 seconds left in the half. Despite being hit hard by defender Nate Getler, Ruddy held onto the ball for a 24-3 lead.
The hard-running Frazier, who had 87 of his yards in the second half, bulled his way into the end zone with 27 seconds remaining for Canton’s final score of the season. “I thought we played very well against an underrated team,” Vinal coach John Bozzi told the Middletown Press. “Canton is a young team, but they are talented. They are going to surprise a lot of people next season.”
Thanksgiving game on the radio, net
Canton’s season finale with Vinal Tech/Coginchaug on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 6:30 p.m., will be broadcast on WCNX-AM (1710) radio in Middletown and CNXRadio.com. A CD copy of the game broadcast will be available for $24.95 through CNXRadio.com.
Turnovers lift Canton to second win of the year
WINSTED, Nov. 22 -- It all unraveled pretty quickly for the Gilbert on Saturday amidst the snow flurries and biting wind at Van Why Field. After a holding penalty negated a 64-yard touchdown run on Gilbert’s first play from scrimmage, Canton forced five turnovers (4 fumbles, 1 interception) in the next 12 minutes to earn a 38-12 victory and its second victory of the season. The Warriors led 28-0 as Gilbert turned the ball over on its first four possessions.
“We were focused and it showed today,” Canton coach Roger Pearl said. “It’s the best we played this year.” Justin Prosser had a pair of interceptions while Nick Grabowski, Luke Talbot, Nate Scott and Ethan Balavender each recovered fumbles.
Luke Talbot rushed for a career-high 125 yards and three TDs for the Warriors (2-8, 2-6 Pequot Uncas), including a 68-yard run in the fourth quarter. Mike Frazier had a TD and 73 yards on the ground. Tyler Plourd caught four passes for 48 yards. Kicker Jeff Nasson broke his own school record with a 27 FG. Gilbert slipped to 4-6.
Second half surge lifts
Old Saybrook to victory
OLD SAYBROOK, Nov. 14 -- Alex Dyer scored 2 TDs as Old Saybrook/Westbrook earned a 36-16 win over the Warriors on Friday afternoon. Old Saybrook (4-5) led by eight at halftime but scored two touchdowns to pull away. Mike Frazer (18-60) scored a 1-yard touchdown for Canton while Nick Quattro scored on a 50-yard TD pass from Luke Talbot. Nick Grabowski ran for a two-point conversion while Tyler Plourd caught a two-point conversion pass from Grabowski (11-21-1, 109).
Eagles handcuff Canton
CANTON, Nov. 8 – Tolland held the Warriors to just 68 yards of offense in an easy 43-8 victory on Saturday in the final home game of the year for Canton (1-7, 1-6 Pequot Uncas) at Mills Pond Recreational Park. Mike Frazer had a 20-yard TD run for the Warriors in the fourth quarter and added a two-point conversion.
Kevin Rioux ran for 111 yards and 2 TDs on just six carries for Tolland (7-2, 7-1 Pequot Uncas). Luke Halgren scored 2 TDs for the Eagles, who took an early lead on Joe Michanczyk’s 40-yard interception return.
Despite loss, Canton plays better against Avon
CANTON, Nov. 1 – Avon’s Mike D’Onofrio scored 4 TDs and rushed for a game-high 95 yards as Avon (6-2, 6-0 Pequot Uncas) shutout the Warriors, 34-0. Falcon QB Andy Livingstone completed 6-of-8 passes for 101 yards. It was 0-0 after one quarter and the Falcons led just 14-0 at halftime.
In the second half, Avon scored on its first two possessions while holding Canton to seven yards of offense on its first three offensive possessions. “We played harder. We played with heart today,” Canton coach Roger Pearl said. “It’s a moral victory. It’s not a victory but it is a stepping stone for our program. We’re getting there.
Mike Frazer gained 79 yards on 20 carries while QB Nick Grabowski completed 5-of-11 passes for 38 yards including two each to Tyler Plourd (2-21) and Luke Talbot (2-13).
Stafford beats Canton again with late TD
Nasson hits first FG in school history
STAFFORD, Oct. 24 – For the second straight year, Stafford/East Windsor beat the Warriors with a heartbreaking touchdown in the final minute of play. A year ago, the Bulldogs scored a touchdown with 16 seconds remaining to spoil Canton’s first varsity game in 43 years with a 24-18 win.
On Friday night under the lights, Tucker Fontanella scored a TD on a 3-yard run with 1:08 left in the fourth quarter and Ben Tweedle kicked the extra point to lift Stafford to an 11-10 victory. Canton’s Nate Scott got a hand on the ball but Tweedle had enough power to get the kick over the crossbar.
Tyler Plourd intercepted four passes for Canton, which recovered six Stafford turnovers. Canton recovered two fumbles on kickoffs with Nate Haller and Richard Jones recovering the ball. However, Canton (1-5, 1-4 Pequot Uncas) also turned the ball over six times with QB Nick Grabowski (7-of-18, 163 yards) throwing two interceptions and Canton losing four fumbles.
Nasson gave Canton a 3-0 lead with his 25-yard field goal in the first quarter -- the first in school history. Stafford (1-4, 1-3 Pequot Uncas) took a 4-3 lead in the third quarter on a pair of safeties. After a bad snap, the Bulldogs tackled Canton punter Nate Scott in the end zone and later, they tackled Grabowski in the end zone.
Canton retook the lead, 10-4, on Luke Talbot’s two-yard run and a Nasson extra point late in the third quarter. Nasson has converted on 10-of-11 extra points this season. Greg Cole caught two passes for 105 yards while Richard Jones was the leading rusher with 34 yards on 12 carries.
Housy takes command early in rout of Canton
FALLS VILLAGE, Oct. 18 – Housatonic/Wamogo and its single wing running attack was too much for Canton in a 43-21 defeat on Saturday. It took the Mountaineers just 1:20 to score its first touchdown on a 16-yard run from Will Kennedy (14-168). Kennedy added a 53-yard TD run and Trevor Watts rolled over four Canton tacklers on a 15-yard TD pass from Tanner Brissett to give Housatonic a 20-0 lead.
Greg Cole caught Nick Grabowski’s first TD pass of the year, a 32-yard reception in the second quarter to cut the lead to 13. But Housatonic freshman Sam Cadman returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown. Two more TDs gave the Mountaineers (1-4) a 43-7 halftime lead.
Grabowski completed a 19-yard TD pass to Tyler Plourd on the final play of the game. Grabowski finished with a career-high 164 yards, completing 10-of-20 passes with one interception. Plourd caught a career-high seven passes for 111 yards.
Canton (1-4, 1-3 Pequot Uncas) travels to Stafford for a night game on Friday at 7 p.m. Housatonic’s Will Kennedy ran for 168 yards and 2 TDs while teammate Tanner Brissett ran for 91 yards on eight carries.
Tolland applies to join CCC
Tolland will be leaving the NCCC next fall. Tolland and Rocky Hill are expected to receive approval shortly to become the newest members of the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) beginning next fall. "We're still working on the applications for Tolland and Rocky Hill and the entire realignment of the conference," CCC commissioner John Tarnuzzer told the Hartford Courant. "We will have definitive answers by November." Sources said that Avon explored applying to the CCC but it was too late. The addition of Tolland and Rocky Hill would give the CCC 32 teams.
Valley Regional dominates Canton under the lights
DEEP RIVER, Oct. 10 – Canton couldn’t get the Valley Regional/Old Lyme offense off the field. Valley’s Richie Mau rushed for 125 yards and 3 TDs while QB Logan Whaley completed 5-of-11 passes for 74 yards and 3 TDs in a 42-0 win over Canton on Friday night under the lights.
Leading 7-0, Valley made it 14-0 only four minutes into the game on a 1-yard TD run by Nadrian Campbell. That was set up by Mau’s interception of Canton QB Nick Grabowski. The Valley Regional defense stifled Canton (1-3) limiting the visitors to just 94 yards on 35 plays. Valley improves to 2-2.
Ellington spoils homecoming
CANTON, Oct. 4 -- Undefeated Ellington/Somers looked sharp in a 41-14 win over the Warriors during the first Homecoming football game in decades at the Mills Pond Recreation Complex. Hundreds of fans surrounded the field. The Knights led 21-0 at halftime and 36-0 after three quarters.
“The kids played hard and we never gave up,” Canton coach Roger Pearl said. “We got outmanned by a team that was better than us. We didn’t make any mistakes. We didn’t throw any interceptions or fumble the ball away. But when you play a good team, that happens sometimes.”
Sophomore QB Nick Grabowski threw a 75-yard TD pass to Luke Talbot, the second longest reception a touchdown in school history. Grabowski (6-16-0, 94 yards) found Talbot down the middle of the field in stride between two Ellington defenders. Last November, Luke Mentzer caught a 76-yard TD pass from Nick Delvecchio against Vinal Tech/Coginchaug.
Grabowski also scored on a 7-yard TD run. Jeff Nasson kicked two extra points for Canton. Mike Frazer ran for 87 yards on 15 carries. Ellington QB Peter Vamvillis completed 11-of-23 passes for 238 yards and 3 TDs to become the school's all-time leader in TD passes with 30. Ellington's Sam Ziter rushed for a game-high 126 yards.
Canton earns first win by blanking WL/Suffield
CANTON, Sept. 27 – The Canton High football team rewarded hundreds of fans that stood in the steady rain around its home field at Mills Pond Recreation Area on Saturday with a 20-0 shutout victory over Windsor Locks/Suffield. Sophomore QB Nick Grabowski rushed for 65 yards and 2 TDs on 12 carries as Canton (1-1, 1-1 Pequot Uncas) snapped a 23-game losing streak that dated back to 1960. The Warriors fielded their first varsity team since 1964 last year and went winless in 10 games.
Canton came close to earning a win in close defeats at the hands of Valley Regional and Stafford a year ago. On Saturday, they closed the deal with a dominant win over the winless Raiders (0-3). Not only was it Canton’s first varsity win since November 1959, it was their first shutout since October 1957.
“We played very well defensively and played as a team on offense,” Canton’s first-year coach Roger Pearl said. “We had a great goal line stand at the end of the game to earn the shutout.”
Grabowski forced a fumble in the final minute of the game with a hard hit on a Locks receiver to earn the shutout. Nate Scott, Nate Getler, Justin Prosser and Kyle Bento played well defensively. Prosser recovered a Locks fumble on the first play of the game. “Everyone stepped up,” Pearl said. “Everyone played really hard.”
And when it was over, the Warriors and their fans celebrated, dousing Pearl with a bucket of ice water.
Coventry spoils home debut for Warriors
CANTON, Sept. 13 – It was a gorgeous day for football. The sun was shining. A few wispy clouds floated in the sky and the air was warm. And for the first time in 44 years, the Canton High football team was playing at home, hosting Coventry/Windham Tech at the Mills Pond Recreational Area. Hundreds of fans lined the field. The only thing missing was a Canton victory.
The visiting Patriots scored four times in the second half and forced four Canton turnovers in a 39-14 victory. Junior back Michael Fraser (12-55) scored a pair of touchdowns for Canton while sophomore QB Nate Grabowski scrambled for a team-high 66 yards on 14 carries. The Warriors were hurt by 11 penalties, including four that negated gains of 29, 14, 34 and 33 yards, respectively. Coventry scored twice on a pair of halfback option passes by Justin Gillette.
Canton Football Online, Sept. 13: Mistakes hurt in home debut against Coventry
Canton hosts first home game in 44 years Saturday
CANTON, Sept. 9 – A young but more experienced Warrior team kicks off the 2008 season with the first home game in town in 44 years when Canton hosts Coventry/Windham Tech at Mills Pond Recreational Complex on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 1:30 p.m. in the season opening game for both schools. It’s the first meeting between the two schools.
All 22 Canton starters have some varsity experience. “They all came back bigger and stronger. Their attitude is fantastic. They came in raring to go, full of fire,” first-year head coach Roger Pearl said. Coventry was 5-5 a year ago, its first .500 campaign since the Pats began its varsity team in 2002. Canton (0-10 last year) is looking for its first varsity win since November 1959 when they beat Farmington. The Warriors didn’t play football from 1961-62 and 1964-2006.
Opening Day milestones
Record: 14-15
Biggest win: 1947, Canton 37, Torrington JVs 0
Last win: 1958, Canton 18, Gilbert 6
Biggest loss: 1953, Gilbert 58, Canton 0
Rocky Hill interested
in joining the NCCC
ROCKY HILL, July 7 – The New Britain Herald reports that Rocky Hill has applied to join the NCCC. "The coaches got together and we talked and the majority of the coaches wanted to go to the NCCC," Rocky Hill football coach David Coyne said. "So that's where we applied." Rocky Hill currently is a member of the Northwest Conference and plays in the Nutmeg League in football. But with Farmington’s departure to the CCC this fall and Berlin, RHAM, Plainville and Middletown reportedly applying to the Central Connecticut Conference, the Terriers didn’t want to be left out in the cold.
Enfield, a member of the NCCC, plays football in the Nutmeg Conference. The addition of Rocky Hill could jumpstart a pure NCCC league in football with Avon, Canton, Windsor Locks, Ellington, Stafford and Coventry already fielding teams. But at this point with no official words from any league officials, it is all pure speculation.
Canton will play home games at high school
CANTON, June 28 – The Warriors will play home games at the high school when the 2008 Pequot Conference season begins. After playing all 10 games on the road during its first varsity season since 1964, Canton will host football games at the field near the high school music rooms and cafeteria.
The field, which has been used for varsity field hockey in the past, soccer and lacrosse, will be lengthened by 19 feet to accommodate the football field. Goal posts, a scoreboard and stands will be built, said Karl Grabowski, president of Friends of Canton Football. The Board of Education will contribute up to $25,000 to renovate the field.
Soccer games, primarily junior varsity contests, will continue to be played on the field and the football team will not practice there. Friends of Canton Football raised $34,000 a year ago to fund the football and girls lacrosse program, which is necessary to avoid a Title IX violation.
The first home game will be against Coventry/Windham Tech on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 1:30 p.m. The last home game in Canton was on Oct. 10, 1964 in a 34-0 loss to Avon.
Pearl hired to take over in Canton
CANTON, April 15 – Roger Pearl, a long-time assistant with over 25 years of high school football coaching experience, was hired as the new head coach of the Canton High football team. Pearl was an assistant coach for the past two seasons under Graham Martin in Canton. “We want to be competitive in every game and I think we will be,” he said. “It will be a challenge but we’ll play to win every week.”
Pearl was an assistant on the coaching staff at Woodrow Wilson in Middletown that went to the Class S finals in 1982 and at Middletown, which went undefeated and won the Class M title in 1984 and finished second in 1985 and 1990. He has also coached at Manchester, Windsor, Avon, Glastonbury and Bulkeley. Pearl is the ninth football coach in school history.
Canton will begin its second varsity season this fall and will play five home games at a site to be determined. The Warriors will play three night games at Valley Regional (Oct. 10), Stafford (Oct. 21) and at Palmer Field in Middletown against Vinal Tech/Coginchaug (Nov. 26) on Thanksgiving Eve.
Candidates interviewed for job
CANTON, April 3 -- Three candidates seeking to become the new football coach at Canton were interviewed this week by athletic director Nancy Grace and Bill Plourd and Karl Grabowski of Friends of Canton Football, which funds the squad. When the committee makes a recommendation it will go to principal Gary Gula and the school administration.
Martin steps down
CANTON, February 25 -- Graham Martin stepped down as head coach of the Canton High football team to spend more time with his family. The Warriors went 0-10 under Martin in their first varsity season in 43 years last fall but they played all of their games on the road and most of the players were playing football for the first time. Martin helped the Canton club team get off the ground in 2006 leading them to a 6-2 record against junior varsity teams. One of his goals was to build a solid foundation for the program.
He was hired in June 2006 by Friends of Football to coach the Warriors. He was a head coach at Bulkeley in Hartford for 23 years, compiling a record of 69-144-8 and leading the Bulldogs into the Class LL finals in 1991.
.gif){kind=small}
