Eagles clear first hurdle of district play with 45-22 win

The Canton Eagles opened District 6-4A play at Norris Birdwell Stadium in Canton Oct. 13, easily handing the visiting Ferris Yellowjackets 45-22 to improve their overall season record to 3-3.

Ferris opened play on offense at the 37-yard line, getting a solid return on the Canton kickoff. Caleb Cox pushed the ball into Eagle territory on the first play from scrimmage, picking up 15 yards to reach the Canton 48-yard line.

The Yellowjackets would push their way into the Canton red zone before a costly 5-yard penalty and swarming defense resulted in a turnover on downs and the Eagles' first offensive possession of the game.

Canton took possession of the ball at their own 19-yard line, failing to pick up a first down before being forced to punt the ball back to the Yellowjackets.

Ferris' second possession of the game began on the Canton 43-yard line, needing just two plays to pick up the first points of the game. Junior running back Damian Edwards picked up six yards on the first carry of the drive before exploding through the Eagle defense for a 37-yard touchdown run and a 6-0 Yellowjacket lead. The ensuing two-point conversion attempt would fail.

After a solid return by Carter Day, the Eagles took possession of the ball at their own 40-yard line. Canton's offense would struggle to pick up yardage on their first three plays of the drive to set up a punting situation.

The Eagles would set up in punt formation on fourth down before rolling the dice with a fake punt that would net 30 yards on a Simon Miller run into the Yellowjacket end of the field. Miller Miller would pick up another 30 yards and a touchdown on the next play from scrimmage, following an excellent series of blocks by his line and receivers for a Canton touchdown. Jair Rodriguez knocked home the PAT, giving the Eagles a 7-6 lead on Ferris.

Ferris maintained possession of the football throughout the rest of the first quarter and into the early stages of the second, relying heavily on their rushing attack to pick up yards and grind down the clock. On the first play of the second quarter, Canton was able to blunt Ferris' drive by causing and recovering a fumble..

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