Cobras put off-season chaos in rear-view mirror as ’24 debut arrives
A Canton football player bursts through a seam in the line during Wednesday’s practice at Liberty Middle School.
On a stormy night three days before their 2024 season opener at Bedford High School, Canton High School football players — their pads scattered on bleachers inside Liberty Middle School’s gymnasium — diligently followed the guidance of their third coaching staff in three years, soaking in the game plan one methodic play at a time.
Given the chaotic off-season the team has endured — new coaches, new practice field, new mascot/logo — the block C that will adorn their white helmets Friday night could stand for ‘C’hange.
More accurately, it stands for ‘C’hallenges accepted, given how they’ve embraced the past several months with acceptance and resilience.
When asked to choose a trademark for his team during the Tuesday night practice that was pushed inside due to a severe thunderstorm, first-year head coach Eric Newton didn’t hesitate.
Rolling with the changes
“I’d say this team’s trademark is adaptability,” he said, smiling. “We’re the only P-CEP team not practicing at the (Plymouth-Canton Educational) Park, our last few practices have been iffy due to the weather, and with all the other changes they’ve had to deal with, these young men show up and do what they’re told.
“They’re dealing with the adversity in front of them, not letting it hinder our process.”
Senior two-way player Nick Parrish said it’s all about focusing on what he and his teammates can control and pushing the non-controllable distractions aside.
“As far as the Cobra stuff, people can call us whatever they want, but us seniors are the same group of guys who have played together for four years — and some of us have been together longer,” Parrish said. “Whatever it says on our jerseys, or whatever colors we wear, we’re going to show up and play as hard as we can for one another and for Canton High School.”
Expectations met
What more could a coach ask for?
“Once I was hired, my expectations were to build up our roster and have our kids keep showing up and, for the most part, they’ve been doing just that,” Newton said. “They’ve stayed true to what we’ve asked them to do.
“Our coaching staff is trying to put more pressure on them in practice situations so that on Friday nights, they’re not freaking out. Ask any high school coach this week and they’ll probably tell you they’d like to be further along than they are, but for this staff’s first year, we’re close to where we want to be.”
For the first time in possibly forever, Canton will not field a junior-varsity team this fall — a predicament that unfolded toward the end of two-a-day practices when a group of players unexpectedly turned in their equipment. A handful of players also faced eligibility issues.
“We had a small JV team to begin with,” Newton said. “So when the kids quit — some were possibly going to start — we decided to move the sophomores who stayed up to varsity and keep our freshman team intact because we’re trying to build up this program to where it was.
“When a kid who has the potential to see a lot of playing time decides not to play after going through all the summer workouts and two-a-days, it’s a little surprising. But football isn’t for everybody.”
Reliable captains
Football is a passion for most of the 58 players Canton will suit up Friday night against Bedford — particularly for the Cobras’ three captains: seniors Devvin Calhoun, Alex Guadagni and Kayden Mullins, all returning starters from last season’s 3-6 team.
Along with serving as the first-string quarterback, Calhoun will play significant minutes as a safety on defense. Guadagni (running back/cornerback) and Mullins (two way starter on the line) will also contribute on both sides of the ball.
“We have some guys going both ways,” Newton acknowledged. “But you want your best 11 players on the field as much as possible.”
Parrish will also be a two-way player, serving as one of Calhoun’s top receiving targets on offense and as a linebacker on defense.
Additional two-way standouts include Theisen Besco (tight end/defensive back), Oluwadamilola Giwa (running back/linebacker), Elliott Patten (running back/defensive back) and Braden Bahen (tight end/defensive line).
Offensive line shows promise
The Cobras’ starting offensive line should be a strong unit, anchored by center Colin Wetmore, who will be flanked by Jake Lowe and Mullins. Sophomore Braden Schimmel is also expected to play a big role in the blocking department as well as Josh Cox.
Key skill-position reserves will be Jack Lockhart, Nick Dimitroff and Augustus Guion. Newton also spoke highly of Phinneas Guion, who will see action on both sides of the ball.
Kicking and punting duties will be handled — at least early in the season — by Lockhart and Parrish.
Canton steamrolled Bedford, 35-17, last year in a game that was also played on the Mules’ home turf after severe flooding from thunderstorms made the P-CEP’s two turf fields unplayable.
“They run a lot of options and belly plays out of what I’d call a flex-bone formation,” Newton said. “They’re mindset is they want the defense to make mistakes. They could run the same play eight straight times and you could stop them, but if somebody on defense misses their assignment on the ninth play, they’ll make you pay.”
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
