The Bears wasted no time getting their offense rolling. On just the second play of the game, Max TeRiele broke loose for a 17-yard run. Avner Jacobs followed with a quick 5-yard pass to Troy Zuhlsdorf, then Hayden Krepel and Landyn Clifford added consecutive 10-yard gains on nifty runs up the sideline. Jacobs powered forward on a tough 10-yard run before TeRiele sprinted 14 yards, only to fumble inside the 5. Fortunately for Canton, Krepel recovered the ball at the 1, amid a swarm of defenders.
On the next play, Jacobs punched it in from 1 yard out for the game’s first touchdown.
The Bears’ defense struck early, too. On Gouverneur’s first offensive play, Avner Jacobs made a tackle for loss and forced a fumble, which was recovered by TeRiele. Due to modified rules, Gouverneur retained possession, but had to move back to their own 35-yard line to continue their 10 play series. Solid tackles from Owen Buffham, Max TeRiele, Kullen Burchardt, Hayden Krepel, Troy Zuhlsdorf, Avner Jacobs, and Laden Nolan held the Wildcats to just 20 yards. However, on the ninth play of the drive, Gouverneur broke through with a 45-yard touchdown pass over the top of the Canton secondary. The 10 play series ended as Jacobs and TeRiele combined for a tackle and TeRiele stripped the ball for another forced turnover.
Canton’s second unit brought energy and execution. After a solid 5-yard run to start the drive, Gavin Brown took the next snap, found a cutback lane, and sprinted 60 yards to the endzone, followed nice blocks from the entire unit.
Following a successful PAT by Buffham, Mak Brassard took the next carry 65 yards to the house, extending Canton’s lead to 20-6. Shortly after, Gabe Sogoian appeared to score on another impressive 65-yard touchdown run, but the play was called back due to a penalty.
Despite the setback, the offense continued to click. Nice runs from Brown and Brassard, set up a 15-yard pass from Peets to Kayden Dyer, who was stopped just inside the 5 ending Cantons 10 play series with 2 TD’s.
On Gouverneur’s next possession, defensive linemen Lukas Reynolds and James Brunet were dominant. Brunet recorded two tackles (one for a loss), while Reynolds added three tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. In the secondary, Hudson Quicke and Jaxxon Shippee made crucial open-field tackles, and Sogoian ended the 10-play series with a drive-ending tackle for loss.
Canton opened the second half with the ball, where QB Ryder Peets immediately connected with Troy Zuhlsdorf for a 20-yard gain. Avi Jacobs followed with a 15-yard run, then Peets hit Landyn Clifford with a perfectly placed 10-yard pass. Max TeRiele capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run up the left sideline, pushing the Canton lead to 26-6.
Gouverneur’s next series was stifled by strong tackling from TeRiele (3 tackles), Kullen Buchardt (2), and one each from Buffham, Jacobs, and Brendan Todd. Despite solid defense, the Bears were caught on a deep pass yet again, resulting in another Gouverneur touchdown. On the ensuing two-point attempt, Buffham broke into the backfield and forced a fumble, recovered again by TeRiele. The Bears led 26-12 heading into the fourth.
To open the fourth, Mak Brassard showed vision and patience, waiting for his blocks to develop before accelerating through the defense and cutting back across the field for another long 65-yard touchdown, his second of the day.
James Brunet continued his strong performance with another tackle for loss, followed by Gavin Brown, who blitzed and forced a fumble with a big hit in the backfield. After the turnover on downs Canton started its drive with a 30-yard run from Brassard, setting up the Bears inside the Redzone where Peets hit Kayden Dyer for a 15-yard touchdown — Dyer’s first of the season.
The Bears’ defense finished strong with key tackles by Ben Bristol, Joseph Shampine, and lockdown play on the edges from cornerbacks Johnny Smith and Ryder Peets.
With the ball on the Gouverneur 39-yard line, Brassard capped off the win for the Bears with his third touchdown, putting the Bears up 48-12 and finishing the day with 209 rushing yards on just 6 carries.
The Bears remain undefeated and look to continue their strong season next Thursday at St. Lawrence Central, aiming to move to 5-0.
Players of the Game (Pictured from left to right):
- Johnny Smith: 3 tackles
- Lukas Reynolds: 3 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
- Avner Jacobs: 3 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 26 rushing yards, 5 passing yards, 1 TD
- Mak Brassard: 209 rushing yards, 3 TDs
- Laden Nolan: 3 tackles (1 for loss)
