Eagles Survive Second Half Kaufman Rally To Advance, 35-21

Two different offensive strategies were showcased in the bidistrict round of the Class 3-A state playoffs at City Bank Stadium in Forney Friday night.

The aerial attack of the Canton Eagles locked horns with the ball-control running game of the Kaufman Lions.

The Eagles’ passing game took control of the contest early and held off a second half rally by the Lions to post a 35-21 post-season victory and advance to the second round.

Coach Lance Angel’s Eagles, now 7-4 overall, will take on the Pittsburg Pirates in the next round but the time and location of the contest were not known at presstime.

Check the November 22 issue of the Canton Herald for all of the playoff details for the Canton/Pittsburg game.

Kaufman, the District 13-3A champion, ended its season at 8-3 as they saw their eight-game winning streak come to a close.

Canton, the District 14-3A co-champion, was led offensively by QB Casey Bell who completed 28 out of 46 passes for 318 yards and two TD’s.

The Lions finished the game with 378 yards rushing but only completed one out of nine pass attempts for seven yards.

Kaufman did not attempt its first pass until the third quarter while Bell completed 23 out of 36 passes for 261 yards and two TD’s before intermission.

Canton received the opening kickoff and moved into Lion territory as Bell completed a 19-yard pass to receiver Keavon Milton (11 receptions, 109 yards) giving the Eagles a first down at the Kaufman 47.

Two plays later, the drive ended in a turnover as Bell fumbled with the Lions recovering the ball at midfield.

Following an exchange of punts, the Eagles again moved into Lion territory as they advanced from their own 31 to the Kaufman 49 in five plays including a 24-yard pass play from Bell to Milton.

Facing fourth down and four, the Eagles decided to go for the first down but the pass from Bell to Milton was incomplete.

After another Lion punt, the Eagles got on the scoreboard first as they moved 88 yards in eight plays.

Bell ended the march with a 7-yard TD run. Travis Renegar added the extra point giving the Eagles a 7-0 lead with 9:41 remaining in the second quarter. Consecutive pass completions from Bell covering 30 and 23 yards to receiver Trent Termin (seven receptions, 111 yards) and 13 yards to Milton set up the first Eagle scoring drive.

Following a disastrous (-5) yard punt by the Lions, the Eagles need only one play to extend their lead as Bell connected with receiver Grant Franklin (four receptions, 47 yards) on a 19-yard TD pass play. The snap on the extra point was fumbled and kicker Renegar picked up the ball, avoiding several tacklers and fired a two-point conversion pass to Termin giving the Eagles a stunning 15-0 advantage with 7:54 to play before halftime.

Kaufman responded by moving 67 yards on seven straight running plays to get back into the contest.

Lion RB Ayron Miles (15 carries, 65 yards) ended the march with a 2-yard TD run. Jonathan Batres added the extra point to cut the Canton lead to 15-7 with 5:23 to play in the second quarter. Running gains of 28 and 10 yards by QB Justin Kapp (24 carries, 104 yards) set up the TD run.    

The Eagles came right back as they moved from their own 36 to the Lion 18 on 12 consecutive passes by Bell including completions of 15 yards to Devon Talley (four receptions, 45 yards)14 yards to Milton and 13 yards to RB Alex Williams.

The scoring threat ended on fourth down and eight when Bell’s pass to Franklin was incomplete.

Three plays later, the Lions gave the ball back to the Eagles on a turnover as Kapp fumbled with Eagle LB John Harris recovering the ball at the Kaufman 35.

On fourth down and 15 at the Lion 40, Bell connected with Termin on a 40-yard TD pass play. Renegar added the extra point to give the Eagles a 22-7 lead with 35.3 seconds to play before intermission.

The first series of the third quarter for the Lions also resulted in a turnover as the Canton defense got into the scoring act as safety Eric Stewart picked up another fumble by Kapp and raced 45 yards for an Eagle TD. Renegar added the extra point giving Canton a seemingly comfortable 29-7 lead with 11:09 remaining in the third quarter.

Kaufman moved from its own 30 to the Eagle 18 in 10 plays that included the first passing attempt of the game by the Lions (incomplete) and running gains of 10 yards by Myles and 14 yards by Kapp.

On third down and seven at the Eagle 18, a heavy pass rush by Canton dropped Kapp for a 14-yard loss forcing the Lions to punt.

Following the punt, the Eagles gave the ball right back to Kaufman as a fumble by Bell was recovered by Michael Roe of the Lions at the Canton 16.

Following a 10-yard run by Myles, the Lions had first down and goal at the Eagle 6 but the Canton defense stiffened.

On fourth down and goal at the Eagle 10, Lion RB Kevin Dotie completed the halfback option pass to QB Kapp for only seven yards giving the Eagles possession deep in their own end of the field. It was the only Kaufman pass completion of the evening.

After an Eagle punt, the Lions began their rally as they moved 52 yards in 11 plays (10 running).

Kaufman RB Hippo Perea powered into the end zone on a 1-yard TD run to end the march. Batres added the extra point cutting the Eagle lead to 29-14 with 11:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. A 16-yard run by Dotie was a key play in the Kaufman scoring drive.

The Lions then surprised the Eagles by recovering the ensuing onside kick at the Canton 40.

Canton’s defense again came through with a stop as Kaufman was held without a first down in that series with Kapp being sacked for a 7-yard loss on fourth down and five.

Five plays later, including an 18-yard pass completion from Bell to Franklin, the Eagles had a fourth down and five at the Lion 40 but Bell’s pass to Franklin was incomplete.

Kaufman moved 60 yards on six straight running plays as they continued to try to come back against the Eagles.

Perea again ended the drive with a 1-yard TD run. Batres added the extra point to cut the Eagle advantage to 29-21 with 6:42 to play in the contest. Running gains of 14 yards by Perea and 31 yards by Dotie led to the TD run.

Canton responded by moving 56 yards in six plays after a 34-yard kickoff return by Bell.

Bell ended the march with an important insurance score as he ran four yards for a TD giving Canton a 35-21 lead with 5:29 remaining. Key plays in the final Eagle scoring drive included a 31-yard reverse run by Franklin and pass completions from Bell covering 14 yards to Franklin and 10 yards to Milton.

Kaufman refused to quit as they advanced from its own 37 to the Canton 40 in nine plays but on fourth down and 12, Kapp’s pass to Jake Maddox was incomplete with 2:20 to play.

Bell fumbled on the next play with Kaufman recovering the ball at the Eagle 49.

Following a 37-yard run by Dotie, the Lions had a first down at the Canton 12 but two offensive penalties (illegal procedure and intentional grounding) against the Lions forced a fourth down and 25 at the Eagle 27.

Rory Turner of the Lions ran 16 yards but was stopped well short of the first down marker giving Canton possession at the Eagle 11 and allowing Canton to run out the clock.