Miscues and turnovers help Canton rout Northwest in season opener

Before Friday night’s game against the canton warriors Northwest quarterback Jace McCoy was recognized by the northwest area athletic department for his 1,500 yard season in 2023 @pafootballnews pic.twitter.com/bIJowCC4zC

— Aaron Hardy (@AaronHa96122301) August 24, 2024

The Warriors won the toss and deferred to the second half. The Rangers would take their opening drive 6 plays before turning the ball over on downs and the warriors would take over at their own 40 yard line. On the first play quarterback Ben Fitch would fumble the snap and lose six yards but a few plays later running back Bailey Gardner would take it in from three yards out the Warriors jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

Bailey Gardner 2 yard touchdown run makes the score @cantonfootball_ 7 @NWARangers 0 5:46 left in the first quarter @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/fXplAbEeM4

— Aaron Hardy (@AaronHa96122301) August 24, 2024

The teams would go back and forth in the first before Canton would be driving deep into Northwest territory but they would fumble at the Ranger 4 and northwest recovered. Northwest would end the first quarter by faking a punt inside their own endzone by having Domenic Cavuto keeping the ball and running for the first down.
The second quarter was back and forth as the Rangers caused and interception but they could not capitalize as penalties would end the drive. With 3:12 to go in the first half the Gardner would have his second touchdown of the night making the score 14-0.

Bailey Gardner 2nd touchdown of the game makes the score @cantonfootball_ 14 @NWARangers 0 in the second quarter @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/zlSSH4BQMW

— Aaron Hardy (@AaronHa96122301) August 24, 2024

A few plays later the Rangers would fumble on their own 14 yard line and a few plays later gardener would have his third touchdown of the first half making the score 21-0 Canton. Penalties would cost the rangers on the next drive as they would punt from their own end zone and the first play of Canton next drive would be a 30 yard screen pass from Fitch to Ward making the score 28-0. The teams went into halftime.
The second play of the second half Fitch would take the quarterback keeper 55 yards into the end zone to make the score 35-0 and Mercy rule would be in effect.

Ben Fitch with a 55 yard touchdown run making the score @cantonfootball_ 35 @NWARangers 0 mercy rule in effect @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/8vnEg6VRgP

— Aaron Hardy (@AaronHa96122301) August 24, 2024

The Rangers would find the end zone on the next drive as McCoy would roll out and find 21 Loegan Diltz in the end zone for a 25 yard touchdown pass the rangers would try to go for two but would not convert making the score 35-6.

Jace McCoy completes a 25 yard touchdown pass to Loegan Diltz two point conversion was no good to make the score @cantonfootball_ 35 @NWARangers 6 in the third quarter @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/3IkLp2Ax5I

— Aaron Hardy (@AaronHa96122301) August 24, 2024

The Warriors would pound the ground game the ball the next drive and they would punch it in with a one yard touchdown run by Dawson Burgess making the score 42-6.

Dawson Burgess with the 5 yard touchdown run makes the score @cantonfootball_ 42 @NWARangers 6 in the 3rd quarter @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/YQq74xSlrS

— Aaron Hardy (@AaronHa96122301) August 24, 2024

The fourth quarter was back and forth with no real movement and the clock would run out giving the Warriors the 36 point win.

The Rangers look to bounce back Next week as they travel to Athens to take on the Wildcats and as for the Warriors they look to get revenge on reigning District 4 class a Champion South Willlamsport.