Beware of
sharp corners

Canton DBs return two picks for TDs in Chiefs' 28-7 homecoming win over Pats

  Mess with Canton's cornerbacks at your own risk.

  Good friends off the field, Arron Boudreaux and Josh Nolen were anything but friendly to Livonia Franklin quarterback Brent Marzion Friday night as they each ran back interceptions for touchdowns in the Chiefs' 28-7 homecoming night triumph.

  Canton improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association's South Division while Franklin slipped to 3-3.

  Boudreaux's 29-yard pick-six doubled the Chiefs' lead to 14-0 47 seconds before halftime.

  His good buddy Nolen's 69-yard return of a Patriot hitch pass gone awry lengthened the winners' advantage to 21-0 4:11 into the third quarter.

  On a night when the Chiefs' offense wasn't its usual unstoppable self, the interception returns proved to be pivotal.

  "Three plays before my interception, they completed a hitch pass on me, so I was a little disappointed in myself," said Nolen, talking about his game-impacting play. "Coach Baechler emphasized all week to stay up on the hitch, stay up on the hitch, don't let them get anything on the hitch.

  "When they throw the hitch-and-go, the receiver usually just turns around, but he doesn't stop. When I saw him stop, I looked at the quarterback, read it and picked it."

  Nolen is a key part of a defense that has yielded just five touchdowns in six games.

  "Last year we learned that it's not all about size," said Nolen, who stands 5-feet-8 and weighs 165 pounds. "A lot of the teams we play are bigger than us, but it's not about size as much as it is about speed. We have three guys who run 4.5's (40-yard dashes) and a couple others run 4.6s.

  "And just because we're small doesn't mean we don't like to come up and hit. We all like to hit."

DOMINATING DRIVE
  Urged on by a large red cheering section, the Chiefs jumped ahead 7-0 on their initial possession with a 14-play, 51-yard drive that ate up 7:34 off the clock. Junior running back Davion Stackhouse, who hauled the pigskin five times on the drive, scored from two yards out and Conner Shennan added the extra point.

  Stackhouse finished the night with at team-high 87 yards on 12 carries against a Patriot defense that came to play.

  "All of our backs ran very physical tonight, but especially Stackhouse," said Canton coach Tim Baechler. "He was breaking tackles and just punishing people. He really brought it.

  "I don't think our offensive line executed as well as they have this season, but give credit to Franklin -- their defense is big and physical up front. This will give us a chance to go back, look at it and get better from it."

  Following a Franklin three-and-out on its first possession, Canton drove deep into Patriot territory, but the drive was halted by Antoine Banks' interception.

  With the momentum shifting slowly in Franklin's direction late in the first half, Canton's Garrett Bryden drilled a 54-yard punt from his own 21 that pushed the Patriots back to their 25 with 1:16 left.

DYNAMIC TURNAROUND
  Following a Mike Baumgardner run up the middle, Boudreaux thrilled the Chiefs' fired-up faithful by stepping in front of a Marzion 10-and-out pass at the 29 and returning it the distance.

  With their opening possession of the second half, the Patriots appeared to be sculpting a drive similar to Canton's game-opening monster as they drove methodically from their 33 to the Chiefs' 43. But on a third-and-eight play, Nolen jumped the hitch and outran Franklin's offense to paydirt 69 yards away.

  "We wanted them to play aggressive on the hitch pass tonight and Arron and Josh both answered the bell," Baechler said. "They both did a great job.

  "Our school record for defensive touchdowns is seven or nine. Before the season, I thought this team might threaten to break that record. Tonight's were our first two of the season, but you never know."

  Franklin's lone score came with 1:43 left in the third quarter when Mike Beasley connected with Banks on a 4-yard TD pass on a fourth-and-goal play.

  Trailing 21-7 after forcing a Canton punt, the Patriots drove to the Chiefs' 45 with 6:30 remaining, but elected to punt instead of go for it on fourth-and-5.

  "I was surprised they punted, considering they were down two scores that late," Baechler said. "Surprised and glad."

  Canton put the game away on the ensuing possession when Stackhouse capped another sustained drive by busting loose with a 26-yard TD run with 1:37 to play.

  Canton outgained Franklin, 208 yards to 200. Ron Gaudi picked up 44 yards on nine carries while Adam Payter churned out 27 on 11 runs.

  Nolen, Bryden and Alex Dixon led the Chiefs in tackles with 11, 10 and eight, respectively. Tyler Hult and Ben Poirer also played well on the Chiefs' D-line, racking up five stops a piece.

 
  Ed Wright can be reached at [email protected] or (734) 453-1980.