STEENS — The Canton Academy football team used more than 250 yards rushing and a timely turnover Friday night to earn a 25-14 victory against Immanuel Christian.
After Canton Academy took a 12-0 lead in the second quarter, Immanuel Christian responded with a touchdown just before halftime and another score early in the third quarter to take a 14-12 lead.
However, it would be short-lived.
On Canton Academy”s following possession, running back David Dearman broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run on the second play of the drive. Canton grabbed an 18-14 lead and never looked back.
Immanuel Christian coach Greg Watkins said J.D. Dantzler, who also played defensive back for the Rams, had a cramp and tried to get off the field before the play, but to no avail.
“He was the defensive back on that side of the field and (the Panthers) had the right play called,” Watkins said, noting his Rams seemed to be on the wrong end of a lot of breaks.
“We played hard and we played well, but it seemed like the breaks were going their way.”
Jason Davis led the Rams” offense with 146 yards rushing on 13 carries. Michael Tate followed with 85 yards rushing and a score, and quarterback Darius Jones contributed 105 yards passing and a touchdown throw. Jones threw two interceptions, both coming in the first half. Immanuel Christian gained 291 yards total offense, 186 coming from the running game.
Watkins commended his running backs for the strong effort in the loss.
“All our backs ran well,” he said. “We”re getting better and better every game.”
Canton Academy coach Matt Walker praised Davis and the Rams.
“(Jason Davis) is a heck of a player,” he said. “Give Immanuel Christian all the credit. They gave us everything we could handle. Immanuel Christian is a good football team. Their record might not show it, but they are.”
Dearman led the Panthers” rushing attack with 120 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. Chris Reed contributed 93 yards and a score on 11 carries, and quarterback Tanner Crosby added 79 yards passing. Canton Academy (2-3) totaled 255 yards on the ground.
The Panthers jumped on the scoreboard early in the second quarter with a touchdown run and followed with another scoring drive on the next possession.
After Immanuel Christian moved the ball into Panthers territory, the Rams fumbled with 53 seconds left. However, on the first play of the Panthers possession, Crosby fumbled to give the Immanuel Christian offense another shot at getting into the end zone. Jones made the second chance count and connected on a 13-yard pass to Dantzler with three seconds left in the half to cut Canton Academy”s lead to 12-8.
The Panthers took possession to open the second half and marched 77 yards down the field, topped off with a five-yard scoring run by Tate, to take a 14-12 lead.
After Canton Academy responded to take an 18-14 lead, the Rams fumbled on the first play of their next possession. Canton kept the football in Immanuel Christian territory for almost the remainder of the game, adding an extra touchdown with 8:19 left in the game.
“I felt like we missed a lot of opportunities,” Walker said. “Ugly or not, a win is a win.”
Immanuel Christian is off next weekend.
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