Thanksgiving Football Final: Stoughton 27, Canton 7 [VIDEO]

Stoughton junior Aaron Mack had four touchdowns and the Black Knight defense turned in one of its best efforts of the season as the Stoughton High football team beat Canton High School, 27-7, in Canton.

The win marked Stoughton’s seventh straight victory over and the 15th in the last 17 years. During this current seven-year win streak, which dates back to 2005, Stoughton has outscored Canton 229-35.

With the win, Stoughton takes a 43-39-4 lead in the , which dates back to 1926.

Unfortunately for Stoughton, Sharon fell to Oliver Ames 34-8 in Sharon. Stoughton needed a Sharon victory and a win over Canton to clinch the Davenport Division and earn a . Instead, OA is the Davenport champ and advances to play Pembroke in the Division 3 playoffs.

Still, the Black Knights finish the season 6-5 and 3-1 in the Davenport Division, turning in their first winning season since 2006.

Meanwhile, Canton finishes the season at 3-7, an improvement from their 0-10-1 mark in 2010.

“Seniors win football games,” Stoughton Coach Greg Burke said after the win.

And while Mack, a junior, provided the scoring, seniors, did in fact, turn in a number of key plays.

Brandon Alves had three sacks and numerous tackles behind the line of scrimmage; Asad Elmi blocked a punt deep in Canton territory midway through the third quarter, setting up Mack’s third score; and Alex Kimball sacked Canton quarterback on 4th and 16 for a 10-yard loss, giving the Black Knights the ball at the Canton six, setting up Mack’s final score.

Stoughton scored first, early in the second quarter, after converting two fourth downs. Facing 4th and 10 from the Canton 25, Alex Fernandes, flushed from the pocket, found Marcus Middleton for a 16-yard gain and the first down. Four plays later on 4th and 1, Mack scored his first of four touchdowns. After the extra point, Stoughton led 7-0 with 8:47 left in the half.

Stoughton extended their lead on their opening drive of the second half. A 30-yard run by Frankie Morris and a 12-yard run from Malachi Baugh helped Stoughton advance to the Canton 4-yard line. Mack finished off the drive with a 4-yard TD run, giving Stoughton the 14-0 lead with 7:57 left in the third.

On the ensuing Canton drive, Alves recorded his third sack of the game, setting up a 4th and 6 from the Canton 19. Elmi then blocked the Canton punt, giving Stoughton the ball at the Bulldog 14.

Runs from Morris and Baugh once again set up Mack for a touchdown, this one from three yards out with 4:01 left in the third.

Canton’s lone score of the game came after Stoughton fumbled a punt return deep in their own territory. The Bulldogs took over at the Stoughton 25, and on 4th and 22, Bires found Elias Camacho for a 22-yard touchdown pass at the end of the third quarter to made it 21-7, but that was as close as Canton would get.

Stoughton’s final score came after Kimball recorded a fourth down sack midway through the fourth quarter, giving the Black Knights the ball at the Canton six. Mack had a six-yard touchdown run to account for the final tally.  

The Stoughton defense turned in perhaps its best performance since the 8-0 win at (or the 13-7 double overtime win vs. ). Canton had trouble moving the ball all game.

“This is a pretty good Canton team,” Burke said. “I’ve got film of them scoring touchdowns left and right.”

“We just really never got a rhythm going on offense. Give Stoughton credit they are very physical up front. We couldn't get a first down and move the ball. Right now they were better than we were,” said.

SCORING

1st Quarter

• Scoreless

2nd Quarter

• Stoughton—6:24—Mack 1-yard TD run; Fernandes extra point (7-0 Stoughton)

3rd quarter

• Stoughton—7:57—Mack 4-yard TD run; Fernandes extra point (14-0 Stoughton)

• Stoughton—4:01—Mack 3-yard TD run; Fernandes extra point (21-0 Stoughton)

• Canton—0:00—Bires 22-yard pass to Camacho; Monagle extra point (21-7 Stoughton)

4th quarter

• Stoughton—4:59—Mack 6-yard TD run; extra point blocked (27-7 Stoughton)

Ryan Lanigan contributed reporting.