SSSSO FAR, SSSSO GOOD: Cobras win dramatic opener

Canton’s football team weathered a storm and outlasted a never-say-quit opponent Friday night at Bedford High School.

Playing their first game for a staff led by new head coach Eric Newton, the Cobras built a 28-0 first-half lead before winning, 31-28, on Jack Lockhart’s 23-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the game.

“I’m feeling pretty good now,” said Newton, enjoying his Labor Day Weekend Saturday at a northern-Michigan lake, “but last night was a little nerve-wracking.”

The start of the game was delayed 30 minutes to let Bedford’s 109-degree field cool down.

As soon as the opening kick-off soared through the air, the Cobras heated up, rolling to a 28-0 lead with four minutes left in the first half. That’s when game officials spotted lightning, forcing a second 30-minute stoppage.

Lightning delay re-energized Mules

Once the teams returned to the field, the Mules were invigorated, scoring 28 unanswered points before Lockhart’s final-minute heroics.

Senior quarterback Devvin Calhoun, playing for his third head coach in the past three years, was Canton’s catalyst, completing 10 of 20 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns — all to fellow senior Alex Guadagni.

Calhoun also rushed 12 times for 80 yards and a touchdown.

“Before the lightning delay, we were really getting off the ball and executing up front,” Newton said of his team’s offense. “Everybody was making the right reads.

“Defensively, we were assignment-oriented and flying to the ball. The second half, it seemed like we were a little gassed, possibly due to a combination of the heat and the adrenaline wearing off after a great first half.

“I was proud of the way the kids made plays down the stretch after giving up a 28-point lead. They didn’t fold, didn’t panic.”

Newton also praised senior two-way standout Nick Parrish.

Well-executed drive

Canton’s game-winning drive started with approximately 6 minutes remaining in the game.

Lockhart initially attempted a hurried-up 28-yard field goal that was off target; however, Bedford was penalized five yards for having 13 players on the field, giving the junior another chance.

“We saw they had too many men on the field before Jack’s first attempt, so we rushed a little bit so they couldn’t get the two extra players off the field,” Newton explained. “It was a great feeling seeing his second kick go through the uprights.”

Newton praised his entire offense, but gave extra props to offensive linemen Jake Low, Kayden Mullins and Colin Wetmore.

Calhoun spearheaded the Cobras’ defense as well, recording seven tackles. Linebackers Lemuel Pettway and Theisen Besco played exceptional, too, Newton raved.

“Our entire defensive line did a great job stopping their No. 1 threat — their fullback, who is going to be very sore today,” Newton said.

Long night, big win

Due to the delays, the Cobras’ bus didn’t roll into Canton until close to midnight, Newton said.

“The ride home was kind of quiet the first 15 minutes simply because everyone was so exhausted,” Newton said. “Once we were on the road a while, you could sense how excited they were to pull off the win.”

Canton hosts Howell Friday at 7 p.m. on the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park’s east turf field.

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.