This Week in Canton History

            CANTON HERALD-Oct. 26, 1961:  it was a sad occasion last Friday night when the Canton Eagles lost their first conference game of the season to the Van Vandals, 26 to 16.  The Vandals were not to be denied even though they trailed at the half by score of 8 to 6. The Eagles were first to get into the scoring during the early minutes of the 2nd quarter when fullback Randy Nix got loose and ran 50 ½ yards for a touchdown.  With 28 seconds left before the half, the Eagles tried a pass play from their own 21-yard line only to have it intercepted by the Vandals on the Eagles 28 yard line. It took only 4 plays for the Vandals to get on the board with a pass play from the arm of quarterback James Hill to halfback John Thorne good for the final 9 yards and a touchdown. The Vandals second touchdown came early in the third quarter and resulted from a Canton fumble on their own 25-yard line. The same passing combination from Hill, who played most of the game at quarterback in place of the Vandals Ronnie Gabriel, to Thorne for 16 yards and the tally. The Vandals third touchdown was set up by John Thorne on a nice return of an eagle punt, putting the ball only Vandals 20 yard line. This time Thorne ran over the remaining 5 yards for the tally. A Canton fumble on their own 24-yard line midway in the last quarter gave the Vandals their final touchdown.

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