Sports

The Canton Eaglettes picked up a hard-fought win at home last week, entering the Thanksgiving holiday on a high note by topping Mt. Vernon 34-28 Nov. 20.

Offense was a struggle for both teams throughout most of the the afternoon with only one quarter of play featuring a double-digit ouburst in points.

Canton struggled to find the range from the field in the game's opening quarter, getting just a three-pointer from Hannah Manry and free throws from both Kenley Nixon and Kyndall Nilius over the game's first eight minutes. Mt. Vernon fared mildly better to edge in front of the Eaglettes 8-6 through one quarter of play.

The Tigers extended their advantage over Canton in the second, once again finishing with eight points in a quarter to build a 16-13 lead over the Eaglettes.

Canton Youth Football Association first and second grade Eagles are going to the Superbowl at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 against Rains at Van High School Memorial Stadium. The team will have an official sendoff at the Canton High School football stadium parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 11. The Canton Police Department and Canton Fire Department will provide a fun sendoff for the players along with a police escort down Highway 243 to Highway 64. The sendoff is open to the public. T

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The Canton Eagles entered play against Rains coming off arguably their most impressive performance of the season, having dominated every facet of play in a 56-0 win over an overmatched Dallas Roosevelt team Oct. 27.

Any fear that the win of the Mustangs, the largest for Canton’s football program since a 70-7 demolition of North Forney back on Sept. 17, 2010, would lead to a letdown were quickly dismissed as Canton doubled up on impressive performances by posting another 56-point win, this one by a 70-14 score, over the Wildcats on Senior Night at Norris Birdwell Stadium.

Canton began play on offense, striking quickly courtesy of a 60-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback McGwire Martin on the first play from scrimmage. The Eagles failed to convert on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt, keeping Canton's advantage at 6-0.

Van Zandt County's best distance runners traveled to Round Rock Nov. 4, taking on the best in the state at this year's UIL State Cross Country Championships.

Five local runners, including Eric Grant, Richie Grant, Madeline Null, Macie Reynolds, and Noble Smith were among the competitors at this year's final event.

In the 4A Varsity Girls Division, Canton sophomore Madeline Null finished 60th overall in a time of 12:50.51 and Van junior Macie Reynolds finished 98th overall in a time of 13:22.52.

Emily Garcia of Alvarado was the first place finisher in the event in a time of 11:28.68, followed by Caitlin Buendia of River Oaks Castleberry in second at 11:33.47 and Lizbeth Rivera of Progreso in third at 11:41.23.

The Canton Eagles played host to the Dallas Roosevelt Mustangs Oct. 27, clashing with a team they dismantled 43-2 back in 2016. Any hope that Roosevelt had of avenging that loss were dashed in spectacular fashion courtesy of an all-around dominant effort by the Eagles on Friday night as Canton controlled every facet of play in a 56-0 win over the Mustangs.

The 56-0 rout of Dallas Roosevelt is the largest margin of victory for the Eagle football program since a 70-7 win over North Forney back on Sept. 17, 2010.

Canton was gifted excellent field position to open play, taking advantage of a short Roosevelt kickoff to take the ball at their own 49-yard line. The Eagles would make the most of the opportunity, following up a false start penalty on the first attempted play from scrimmage with McGwire Martin finding Dylan Cox on a screen pass that would cover 56 yards for a touchdown. Jair Rodriguez added the PAT, giving the Eagles a 7-0 lead just 14 seconds into the game.

Cross country runners representing all three 4A schools from Van Zandt County made their way to Grand Prairie Oct. 23 to compete in this year’s Class 4A Region II Cross Country Championships.

Canton took home the top team finish among local schools in the varsity boys division, finishing eighth overall with 282 points while Wills Point finished 20th overall with 479 points in the event. Van had no runners in the varsity boys division.

Individual varsity boys results included:

-Canton: Matthew Hook, 43rd, 17:53.57; Jonathan Bourquin, 48th, 17:58.81; Wilson Null, 52nd, 18:03.69; Kevin Nixon, 68th, 18:16.45; Garrett Stapleton, 100th, 19:02.32; Gage Bullard, 145th, 20:18.39; and Trent McCarver, 149th, 20:22.52

-Wills Point: Cade Davis, 71st, 18:22.25; Christian Williams, 76th, 18:32.98; Aidan Phillips, 113th, 19:19.65; Stetson Malpass, 115th, 19:27.95; Chase Phillips, 150th, 20:23.16; and Gerardo Gonzalez, 173rd, 21:20.44

Prior to the start of the season, District 13-4A coaches were virtually unanimous in their assessments that any of the six teams competing could finish at the top of the final standings our outside the playoff picture entirely due to the razor thin margin separating teams.

Those preseason predictions continued to ring true last week with Brownsboro, Canton, Emory Rains, Mabank, Van and Wills Point all making their final pushes for a top four finish as a spot in the 4A UIL State Volleyball Playoffs.

The Canton Eaglettes helped themselves as much or more than any other district team over the past week, edging the top seeded Rains Lady Cats in five sets Oct. 17 before dispatching the Brownsboro Bearettes in a three set sweep Oct. 20.

Canton got off to a fast start against in what would be a competitive match throughout, taking the first set 25-22 over the Lady Cats. Rains fought back in the second, edging the Eaglettes 25-23 to even the match at one set apiece.

A pair of longtime rivals crossed paths once again Oct. 20 with the Wills Point Tigers playing host to the Canton Eagles in a key District 6-4A matchup involving playoff qualifiers from the previous season. Wills Point would come away from the matchup, storming back from a 14-0 first quarter deficit to secure a 31-21 win at Ken Autry Davis Field.

Canton made it look easy on the first drive of the game, needing just five plays to complete a 68-yard scoring drive. After a nine-yard completion from McGwire Martin to Carter Day on the first play of the drive, Martin sliced through the Tiger defense for a 24-yard run into Wills Point territory.

Three plays later Dylan Cox took a handoff from Martin and raced 32 yards for the first points of the game. Jair Rodriguez added the PAT, giving Canton a 7-0 lead with 10:28 to play in the quarter.

The Canton Running Eagles competed at the District 13-4A Cross Country Meet in Canton Oct. 13, finishing second overall in the varsity boys division while also placing two finishers in the top five of the varsity girls race.

Coach Marta Morgan noted, “The weather was beautiful and there were many personal best times turned in. I'm super proud of these runners. They did a great job and I couldn't have asked for a better group of young people to coach.”

The varsity boys finished second overall just behind district champion Mabank. Matthew Hook was Canton’s top finisher in the race, placing fourth with a time of 17:58. Wilson Null finished sixth in 18:12, Garrett Stapleton seventh in 18:13, Jonathan Bourquin 10th in 18:23, Kevin Nixon 17th in 19:14, and Gage Bullard 18th in 19:15.

The Canton Eaglettes have been no strangers to marathon volleyball matches in recent weeks, entering their rivalry week against Van and Wills Point having already played three five-setters through their first five District 6-4A contests of the season.

Canton would once again find itself going down to the wire against both the Lady Vandals and Lady Tigers, pulling out a five-set win over Van before narrowly missing out on another win against Wills Point.

The Eaglettes hosted Van Oct. 10, taking on their biggest rival while also raising funds and awareness for cancer research with their annual Dig Pink Night.

Canton players put together a gutty effort against Van, battling back from a two-sets-to-none deficit to avenge a five-set loss to the Lady Vandals during the first round of district play back on Sept. 22.