Stepping Stones.
A year ago, we saw a very young team take the field at Canton High School. Canton was able to muster up enough wins to make it to the Class A playoffs. The opponent, the Southern Columbia Area Tigers. Canton saw 10 freshman and sophomores take the field and the Tigers played tough in a shootout with the Tigers. Canton is growing up, they return their starting running back and quarterback and this looks to be another year with NTL title hopes at a high.
THE GOOD: Youth, Pepper, and Rockwell. Like I previously stated, Canton is a young team who will only improve in the future. After a 6-5 season, I see Canton taking things to the next step in '11. Canton returns starting senior signal-caller Ben Peppper. Though Pepper had a tough time in the completion percentage and INT department, he still threw for 800 yards and eight touchdowns last year. It is always good to have your leader back. Canton also brings back starting senior tailback Scott Rockwell. He ran for 56 yards on just five carries last year against a tough SCA defense.
THE BAD: The loss of Kyle High. It isn't every day where you take a kid off of the offensive line and he becomes an instant star. It happened in Canton and they are going to miss it dearly. Possibly the story of the NTL was High who came into a tight-end and tailback role after injuries only to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 20 some passes for 361 yards. Oh, did I mention he gained 1,000 yards on JUST 101 carries. That will sting.
THE UGLY: It seems every single year Canton lets one slip away. Not only do they let them slip, they get embarrassed. Canton has to find a way to beat the big boys of the league like Wyalusing and Muncy. Last year against those two squads the games were not even close. Thankfully for the Warriors in '11 both of these games are at home on a Saturday. I'm going on a limb here, and yes it is a limp one, but Canton will put it to them this year, I hope. Oh, and the defense must must improve. Can't give up 50 in a half and hope to win in the playoffs.
LAST COMMENT: I have Canton finishing the year at 8-2 in the regular season, and taking another beating in the always tough Class A playoffs. I think 8-2 will only give the Warriors the #3 seed, and that spells trouble vs either Line Mountain or SCA. If Pepper plays well, Rockwell carries the load, and the young freshman continue to grow up quickly, Canton will take their stepping stones all the way to an unbeaten Small School Division title.
So that will do it folks. I will put up my pre-season All-NTL teams and POY's next week!!
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