TAKIN’ ‘DEKIERE’ OF BUSINESS: ‘Cats go on rushing rampage vs. Canton

Plymouth’s football team offered a 5-for-5 special during Friday night’s homecoming game against arch-rival Canton.

Seeking their first victory of the 2024 season — and an unprecedented third straight against Canton — the Wildcats were fueled by a rushing rampage in their 49-20 triumph over the Cobras as senior No. 5 Nick Dekiere scored five TDs and rushed for 231 yards (33 carries) to fuel Plymouth’s resounding 49-20 triumph.

The unsung stars of the night for Plymouth were its lanes-opening group of offensive linemen, including Hayden Schultz, Eric Durecka, Joe Portman, Sage Hixson, Jacob Smith, Jason and Stam and Braeden Milliken, whose work in the trenches helped the winners account for 351 total rushing yards.

(To view video highlights of Friday’s game, click here.)

Dekiere elusive

Shifty, fast and tough, Dekiere only needed a slice of daylight to turn basic off-tackle runs into highlight-reel sprints to the end zone.

Plymouth’s first-year starting quarterback Logan Pheiffer enjoyed a productive night as well, running for 138 yards while completing a 22-yard TD pass to Jimmy Cleveland after calmly securing a low snap and delivering the ball to his wide-open receiver.

The Wildcats’ defense was led by LeRon Davis (six tackles), Portman (six tackles), Preston Kocoloski (five tackles) and Max Hornbacher, who shined with a four-tackle performance.

Plymouth’s ball-hawking defense racked up three turnovers: a fumble recovery by Micahel Awazie; and interceptions by Michael Niemi and Ethan Britton.

Drew Kime registered a sack for the Wildcats’ defense.

Calhoun effective for Cobras

Canton senior quarterback Devvin Calhoun completed 12 of 23 passes for 202 yards and two TDs — 60- and 57 yard scoring strikes to Alex Guadagni. Calhoun also ran 14 times for 111 yards.

Jamari Storie hauled in five Calhoun passes for 75 yards.

Theisen Besco, Nick Parrish and Lemuel Pettway spearheaded the Cobras’ defense.

Plymouth opened the scoring 10 minutes into the contest when Jackson Asaro scooped up a blocked punt and raced 40 yards to the end zone. Daniel Vigo followed with the first of his seven extra points to give the ‘Cats a 7-0 advantag.e

Canton countered nine seconds later when Calhoun found a wide-open Guadagni for a 60-yard TD pass (Jack Lockhart booted through the extra point) to knot the game at 7-7.

Back-to-back TDs huge

Plymouth put a stranglehold on the victory with back-t0-back second-quarter TDs — 5-yard and 25-yard scoring runs by Dekiere — to seize a 21-7 lead.

Canton rebounded with a 57-yard Calhoun-to-Guadagni bomb to pull to within 21-13, but Plymouth regained its two-TD lead on a 9-yard run by Dekiere. The touchdown was set up by a 48-yard run by Pheiffer on a fourth-and-7 play from near midfield.

The Cobras remained resilient, pulling to within 28-20 with 4:26 left in the third quarter on a 22-yard TD run by Calhoun. After the Cobras regained possession and moved to the Plymouth 43, the Wildcats’ opportunistic defense forced a fumble that was recovered by Colin Strachan.

Plymouth owned the fourth quarter, outscoring Canton 21-0.

Needing to win out to secure MHSAA Division 1 playoff berths, Plymouth returns to action Friday when it hosts 4-0 Novi on the P-CEP’s west turf field. Canton will travel to 3-1 Brighton.

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