Chiefs possess excessive speed, hunger to take the next step

BY ED WRIGHT
Aug. 19, 2010, 8:15 p.m.

  Take away the David Blaine-caliber ball deception, the sprinter-like speed and the rifle-armed quarterback, and Canton's 2010 backfield looks pretty ordinary.

  Thanks to a boat-load of weapons - including blazers Kevin Buford and Davion Stackhouse; inside bangers Zac Merillat, Nick Alaniva and Braden Price; and spiral-flinging signal-caller Ben Merbler - the Chiefs' full-house formation should be anything but ordinary this fall.

  "We're not real big, but we're fast and our seniors are showing good leadership early on," said Canton coach Tim Baechler. "We have more guys going both ways than I'd like, so hopefully as the season goes on we have people step up to give those guys a breather."

  Canton's 2009 season ended at 10-2 following a thrilling 31-24 overtime loss at Novi Catholic Central in a Division 1 quarterfinal contest.

  The Chiefs threatened to win the game in the final minute, but their final drive stalled inside the CC 30 and a long field goal attempt fell short, forcing the OT.

  The Shamrocks won handily against their next two foes to win the state title.

  "I watched the CC game film the other day and it still hurts," said senior captain Garrett Bryden, the team's top returning tackler. "But it also shows us how close we are to doing something really special."

  The Chiefs will need to re-load at quarterback and fullback this season following the graduation of Kevin Delapaz and Adam Payter, but they'll do so with some pretty explosive ammunition.

  Merbler, a senior, takes over for Delapaz with little varsity experience but plenty of tools.

  "Ben had an excellent summer," Baechler said. "He's an excellent passer and he's showing some leadership qualities. He needs to relax a little more on the play-action stuff and he needs to work on his footwork a little bit, but he has the potential to be very good."

  Merbler will be backed up by junior Kyle Adams, who engineered the Chiefs' junior-varsity squad last season.

  When asked which group of players was most dynamic, Baechler didn't hesitate in noting the running backs, many of whom will also see time in the defensive backfield.

  Buford, who was one of the KLAA's top track-and-field sprinters this past spring, will combine with Stackhouse - who will run over defenders when he doesn't run around them - to give the Chiefs a spectacular one-two speed punch.

  "We have a lot of speed back there, but we're going to need it early on until we get the line going," said Baechler.

  Alaniva and Merillat, who like Buford were both track stars for the Chiefs, will try to fill the void left by Payter, who averaged double-digit yards per carry last season.

  Price, whose family relocated to Canton from Alaska, is also a dangerous and swift running back.

  As in past years, the Chiefs' offensive line will be young and vital to the team's success. The lone returning starters are sure-handed tight end Angelo Lanava, who grabbed a critical two-point conversion pass in the CC game, and right guard Marty Brudzinski, whose ability to trap block will prove beneficial to the Chiefs' ball-carriers.

  Bryden will start the season as the tight end opposite Lanava. Ben Poirer (left tackle), Matt Gunnis (left guard) Alex Marsh (center) and sophomore Cameron Dillard will fill out the offensive line.

  When the Chiefs switch to their spread offense, wide receivers Ryan Powell and Tyler Kinloch will be inserted to provide some speed on the outside.

  "Powell is an excellent receiver," Baechler said. "He catches everything."

  Several defensive-line spots were still up for grabs heading into Thursday's four-way scrimmage, Baechler said. Poirer has earned one of the slots after excelling on the D-line last fall.

  Joining Bryden at linebacker will be Price, Gunnis, Mario Rodriguez and Jack Slater, a standout defender on the 2009 squad.

  Powell will start at free safety while Stackhouse and Merillat will both see time at strong safety.

  Dependable and quick Josh Nolan will team with Buford to give the Chiefs a pair of sharp corners.

  Connor Shennan will handle the place-kicking duties for the second straight season. The versatile Bryden is in line to do the punting.

  Canton's early-season schedule is formidable. The Chiefs open at Walled Lake Central on Aug. 27 before opening their home slate on Sept. 2 against Grand Blanc.

  Both Grand Blanc and Central won their respective KLAA divisions in 2009.

  (For a look at the Chiefs' complete 2010 schedule, CLICK HERE.)

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

Senior quarterback Ben Merbler, shown taking off on a keeper, possesses a strong arm. (Ed Wright photo)

Davion Stackhouse, pictured above in last year's playoff game against Novi Catholic Central, can hurt opponents inside and outside. (Ed Wright photo)

Mario Rodriguez (left) is one of the Chiefs' hard-hitting linebackers. (Ed Wright photo)