Canton takes road win over Central Hinds

Southern Sports & Travel

Lafayette Wales rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown to lead ninth ranked Canton to a 28-13 upset win over third ranked, and previously undefeated, Central Hinds last night in Raymond, Mississippi on a rain soaked field.

Canton jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead en-route to improving to 4-1 on the season and will now prepare for critical district play next week as Leake visits the Panthers.

“I told our kids the cream is going to rise to the top,” said Canton head coach Ron Jurney. “Is it going to be there’s or ours?”

Canton threatened on their first possession but Dominic Sanderson’s field goal attempt would miss the mark.

The Panther’s defense would grab the first points of the night as senior linebacker Kraft McLean blocked a Central Hinds punt and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown with 4:41 remaining in the opening quarter.

Sanderson would add the PAT to give Canton a 7-0 lead.

Following a Central Hinds punt Canton responded with an 8 play, 80 yard drive featuring the running of senior tailback Lafayette Wales to increase the lead.

With a first and goal at the Central Hinds 1 yard line Wales was met with a thunderous hit at the line of scrimmage and fumbled into the end-zone but quarterback Houston Persac recovered the football for a Panther score.

Sanderson added the PAT and with 7:15 left in the half Canton stretched their lead to 14-0.

Things only got worse for Central Hinds.

On a 2nd and 11 from their own 41 yard line quarterback Skyler Price was intercepted by junior defensive back John Bryant Stewart whose return to the Cougar 36 yard line gave the Panthers prime field position with 6:20 remaining in the first half.

Five plays later senior tailback Kraft McLean cashed in on the Central Hinds turnover with a 1 yard touchdown plunge to up the lead to 20-0.

Dominic Sanderson nailed the PAT and at the 3:36 mark of the second quarter Canton held a 21-0 advantage which they would carry into intermission.

Central Hinds came out of the half on a mission.

The Cougars produced a 75 yard scoring drive with junior tailback Brian King responsible for 69 of those yards.

King capped the 4 play drive on a 16 yard toss sweep touchdown run and Mason Sollie’s PAT trimmed the deficit to 21-7 and brought new life to the Cougars.  

Canton looked to be on their way to offering up a response to the Cougar scoring drive with one of their own but Houston Persac’s fumbled snap at the Central Hinds 40 yard line would be covered by Justin Kirby at the 39 with 3:48 left in the third quarter.

Mason Sollie’s modest 3 yard gain to the 42 would be amplified by a 15 yard personal foul assessed to Canton and 6 plays later Brian King rumbled around the left side for a 16 yard score with 42 seconds left in the quarter to cut the Canton lead to 21-13.

Central Hinds forced the Canton offense into a three and out to start the fourth quarter and the tide seemed to have shifted completely over to the Cougars with nearly a full quarter of football remaining.

Central Hinds set up shop at the Canton 44 yard line following a Panther punt.

After Brian King picked up a quick 3 yards on first down Justin Kirby plowed his way for another 8 yards to the Canton 33 yard line.

King then busted a 16 yard run to the Panther 17 yard line but the Canton defense would turn back Central Hinds.

After Justin Kirby pushed his way to the Panther 14 yard line on a 2^nd and 9, Canton slammed the door on the Central Hinds scoring threat.

Junior defensive lineman Dan Kennedy sacked quarterback Skyler Price for an 8 yard loss at the Panther 22 yard line forcing Central Hinds into a 4^th and 16 situation and the result would be the same as Canton got to Price again, this time for a loss of 6 yards back at the Canton 28 yard line.

Canton would take over and chew up just over three minutes off the clock while moving out to their 40 yard line before stalling out.

Kraft McLean delivered a clutch 46 yard punt for Canton and a block in the back on Central Hinds would pin the Cougars back at their 5 yard line with 4:46 remaining in regulation.

Three plays later John Bryant Stewart would pick off Skyler Price for the second time of the night.

Stewart ‘s interception at the Central Hinds 26 yard line would set up a Lafayette Wales 19 yard touchdown run with 1:41 left to close the door on the Cougars.
A Sanderson PAT pushed the lead to 28-13 to seal the road win for the Canton Panthers.

Kraft McLean picked up 70 yards and a touchdown on the ground for Canton and quarterback Houston Persac added 40.

Central Hinds junior tailback Brian King led all rushers with 161 yards. King added two touchdowns.

Justin Kirby contributed with 62 yards rushing for Central Hinds.

Canton improves to 4-1 on the season with a week six District 2-AA meeting with Leake looming.

Central Hinds (4-1) falls from the ranks of the unbeaten and will travel to Flora to battle Tri-County next Friday night.
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Post Game with Canton Head Coach Ron Jurney