Canton Holds On For 30-23 Win

CANTON — Grant Franklin remembered a statement made by Canton head coach Lance Angel earlier this week.

"He said we had to be like tennis balls and bounce back," Franklin said in reference to the Eagles needing to come back after a disappoint loss at Eustace last week.

Friday night, Franklin hauled in three touchdown passes that spelled game, set, and match for Canton in a 30-23 victory over Mineola at Norris Birdwell Stadium.

The third TD, a 14-yard catch in the end zone with 3:38 remaining in the game, wound up being the game winner as Canton (5-3 overall, 2-1 District 14-3A) used big defensive plays to seal the deal.

Angel complimented both the defense and offense for clutch plays in a game neither team led by more than 11 points.

"We had some close games earlier in the year and we had some come-from-behind wins. We felt all along this was going to help us down the road and I think it helped us tonight," Angel said.

At 5 feet, 8 inches, Franklin is not the biggest target among Canton’s receivers. However, his performance Friday night made him the new all-time career touchdown catch leader at Canton with 23.

"What Grant does and what all our receivers do, he runs perfect technical routes. If you can do that, you can get open and he does a great job getting open," Angel said.

Mineola (4-4, 1-2) took its only lead on the first possession of the third quarter. Quarterback Tyler Drennon hooked up with Trey Stubblefield for a 49-yard touchdown pass.

Drennon followed that with a two-point conversion pass to Paul Nevarez to give the Yellowjackets a 23-20 advantage.

But that would be the only highlight of the second half for the visitors. The Eagle defense neutralized Mineola’s running game and held it to just 31 yards after giving up 127 in the first half.

Jesse Bengston, Clint Bengston, Jacob Harris and Carey Bell were among the Eagles making game-turning stops on defense.

Still, the Eagles had to endure some frustration on offense before finally retaking the lead. Canton had the ball in Mineola territory on three straight possessions but was turned away each time, including a missed 24-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the game.

One of the biggest plays of the night, though, may have come from punter Jonathon Huddle. After having a punt attempt blocked in the third quarter, he blasted one that rolled dead at the Yellow jacket 3 with 5:54 to play.

The Canton defense stopped Mineola inside the 10 and ’Jackets punter Colt Bickerstaff took a safety on the punt attempt.

That cut the lead to 23-22 but more importantly gave the ball back to the Eagles. Quarterback Chance Wallace threw a screen pass to Roy Denbow that went for 40 yards, and that set up the game-winning pass to Franklin.

Mineola’s effort to rally was stonewalled twice on interceptions by Den bow and Wallace in the closing minutes. Senior defensive lineman Daniel Allen picked off a pass earlier in the fourth quarter.

Wallace and Denbow put Canton ahead on the second play of the game on a pass play that went 74 yards. Wallace later added a pair of 8-yard TDs to Franklin.

Mineola got a 26-yard field goal from Juan Palacios in the first quarter. Down 13-3 early in the second quarter, the Yellowjackets answered quickly with a 3-yard TD run by fullback Trevor Hudson.

Drennon hit Bickerstaff for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 1:20 before halftime to cut Canton’s lead to 20-15.

The Eagles will play their final home game of the season this Friday, a showdown with district leader Van at 7:30 p.m.