Senior linebacker Jack Slater sacks Churchill's quarterback during the first quarter of Friday night's 48-7 Canton victory. (Ed Wright photo)

Chiefs make short work of Chargers, 48-7

  At 7 p.m. Friday night, when most high school football games were just starting, Canton's game against Livonia Churchill was all but over.

  Thanks to an early 6:30 p.m. start and an early explosion by the Chiefs' offense, Canton led 21-0 by 6:50 p.m.

  By 8:30 p.m., it was 48-7 and the No. 2-ranked team in the state was 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the KLAA South Division.

  Churchill slipped to 2-4.

  (To  view video highlights of the game, click on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4Fp9ndYAJM&fmt=22)

  "Our defense played very well," said Canton coach Tim Baechler. "And our offensive line improved a lot. They were more physical than they've been, and they sustained their blocks."

  Senior Braden Price's offensive line debut received two thumbs up from Baechler. The linebacker also led the Chiefs in tackles with 14 -- two for losses.

  "He did well tonight for his first game," said Baechler. "He has to get better though. They all do."

  Price was involved in a bizarre play following the Chiefs' initial touchdown in the game's first minute. Following a low snap on the extra point, holder Ryan Powell scooped up the ball, rolled left and fired a left-handed pass to Price for what appeared to be an unconventional two-point conversion.

  However, the play was wiped out when Price was ruled to be an ineligible receiver because he was wearing jersey No. 55 -- the number he switched to from No. 4 because of the move to the offensive line.

  That would be pretty much the only thing that didn't go the Chiefs' way all night.

  Davion Stackhouse, who bolted 67 yards to paydirt on the game's opening play, finished with 168 yards rushing on just nine carries -- an astounding 18.7 yards per carry  -- and three TD's.

  Kevin Buford was equally unstoppable, racking up 79 yards on eight attempts -- a quarter of which were scores.

  Starting fullback Zac Merillat also shined, running nine times for 63 yards and a 17-yard TD.

  Quarterback Ben Merbler ran three times for 15 yards and completed 3 of 5 passes for 19 yards.

  Stackhouse and Buford accounted for four touchdowns in the game's first 14:30. Stackhouse's second TD was from 30 yards out and was followed by a two-point conversion run by Buford.

  Buford then scored on runs of 5 and 60 yards to make it 28-0.

  Churchill showed signs of life seconds after Buford's second score, returning the ensuing kick-off 90 yards for a touchdown to cut its deficit to 28-7.

  However, Canton countered with two more touchdowns before the half -- Merillat's 17-yard run and a 61-yard punt return by Ryan Powell -- to take a 41-7 cushion into the intermission.

  Stackhouse capped the scoring with a 19-yard run with 3:12 to go in the third quarter.

  The Chiefs piled up more than three times as many yards -- 390 to 124 -- than the Chargers.

  In addition to Price, Merillat (12 tackles), Jeff Straub (11) and Jack Slater (7) had big defensive games for the victors.

  Canton senior cornerback Josh Nolen made an outstanding play to break up a long pass in the first quarter.

  Powell returned four punts for 90 yards.

  The game was played on the P-CEP junior varsity real-grass field.

  "It was nice," Baechler said. "That's the best shape I've ever seen it in. Leo, the maintenance man who takes care of the field, has done an outstanding job with it."

  The Chiefs return to action Friday when they host Plymouth.

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.

Senior cornerback Josh Nolen (8) breaks up a long pass play. (Ed Wright photo)

Evan Rinke made this huge hit on a Churchill kick-off return. (Ed Wright photo)

Braden Price appeared to convert this two-point conversion pass, but he was ruled to be an ineligible receiver due to his new uniform number. Price wore No. 4 in the team's first five games. (Ed Wright photo)

Ryan Powell (5) returned four punts for 90 yards. (Ed Wright photo)

Davion Stackhouse followed a Marty Brudzinski block to score on a 67-yard run on the game's first play from scrimmage. (Ed Wright photo)