Canfield defeats East High 23-0

By CHUCK HOUSTEAU

Vindicator Correspondent

CANFIELD — The Canfield Cardinals were feeling very special after their 23-0 victory over East on Friday night.

Canfield’s special teams along with a smothering defense were the difference in a non-conference matchup with the Panthers (2-4) that was closer than the final score indicated.

Billy Fisher kicked field goals in each of the first three quarters from 37, 39 and 27 yards, and his booming kickoffs limited East’s ability to establish any field position throughout the game.

“Our special teams were outstanding tonight,” said Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky. “Our punter, Matt Harmon, did a great job and certainly our kicker Billy Fisher is a special player.

“The three field goals tonight were huge to get us up nine points against a team like East.”

Fisher’s three field goals were a career high and were Canfield’s only points in the first three quarters.

“It feels great to contribute with my teammates,” said Fisher’s whose previous best was two field goals in 2008 game against Alliance. “I like when I get opportunities. I do my part but I need everyone else to do their parts and you saw what happened.”

Fisher’s first kick came early in the contest when Canfield (5-1) took the opening kickoff and drove from its own 36 to the East 20 in six plays. When the drive stalled, Fisher was right down the middle to give the Cards a 3-0 lead.

His second field goal from 39 yards out came as time expired in the first half.

“Fisher’s a great weapon to have,” said Pavlansky who called Fisher a sleeper Division I college prospect. “Anytime you can get up nine or 10 points on an explosive team like East you have to take it.

“His third kick in the third quarter gave us some breathing room and then we were able to put the game away with two touchdowns late in the game.”

Canfield’s defense was also outstanding as it limited the Panthers to 169 yards of offense and no big plays.

The biggest play was made by Canfield’s Anthony Gelonese who intercepted a pass to thwart East’s best drive of the night at the start of the fourth quarter.

Trailing 9-0, East marched from its own 19 to the Canfield 12-yard line. A sack by Dante DeLorenzo set the Panthers back to the 20 and then Gelonese stepped in front of a screen pass attempt to end the threat.

“That’s been our M-O all year,” said East coach Brian Shaner. “We do well and then we find a way to shoot ourselves in the foot. We’ve got to fix that.”

Shaner said that he was proud of his team’s effort against the Cards.

“This was a typical East or Rayen-Canfield game,” Shaner said. “We fight tooth and nail with them and every year it seems they find a way to make a big play and we just can’t make a big play.”

Canfield didn’t put the game away until Donnie Allison broke free up the middle and ran 25 yards for a touchdown to give Canfield a 16-0 lead with 7:25 left in the game.

On East’s next possession, Frank Babbaro recovered a fumble that led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Blake Jackson.

“Our offense kept pounding away tonight,” Pavlansky said. “Our defense kept us in the game until the offense found a way to get in the end zone in the fourth quarter.”

Canfield racked up 250 yards of offense and made 13 first downs.