Canton's passing game struck gold on its next possession when Delapaz closed a six-play, 80-yard beauty when he lofted a 35-yard spiral to a wide-open Davion Stackhouse, who hauled the pigskin the final 21 yards to polish off a 56-yard TD pass.

  The extra point was no good leaving the score at 20-10.

  The high-scoring pace continued on Plymouth's next drive, which culminated with Jernarian Caldwell's 27-yard TD run through the heart of the Chiefs' defense.

  Following a Canton three-and-out, Plymouth drove to the Chief 32, but Brindza's potential game-tying field goal with 19 seconds before the half sailed just wide of the right upright.

  Hicks had connected with Dante Fox on a 27-yard TD pass three plays earlier, but it was nullified by a motion penalty.

  Probably the most significant drive of the night unfolded mid-way through the third quarter when Canton extended its lead to 27-17 by driving 88 yards in eight plays, the last of which was an electrifying 21-yard TD run by Kevin Buford, who side-stepped a pair of Wildcats at the 17 before sprinting to the 2 and stretching the ball just over the pylon as he was jarred by Caldwell.

  The biggest play of the drive was a 33-yard run by Delapaz that advanced the ball from Canton's 25 to Plymouth's 42.

  The back-and-forth scoring tempo was interrupted the next time Plymouth possessed the ball as Canton junior safety Ryan Powell picked off a pass to give the Chiefs the ball at the Wildcats' 32. Six plays later, Stackhouse blasted into the end zone from four yards out to widen Canton's lead to 33-17 1:05 into the fourth quarter.

  Canton assured itself of advancing to play the Pioneers when Payter zigged and zagged 68 yards to paydirt to finalize the scoring.

  Baechler emphasized that the Chiefs' second-half dominance was not instigated by an earth-shaking pep talk.

  "It was nothing more than just getting them settled down and making some defensive adjustments," he said. "Our defense adjusted well in the second half and played really well. Thank goodness the offense controlled the ball because that's a scary team we played tonight."

  Delapaz rushed for 155 yards on 12 carries and completed three of four aerials for 126 yards. Payter registered 120 yards on 13 attempts while Buford gained 65 on 11 hauls.

  Although he completed just 2-of-11 passes for 22 yards, Hicks was a consistent ground threat for the 'Cats, amassing 122 yards.

  "In the first half we hit on a couple crossing patterns and just pounded the ball, pounded the ball, pounded the ball," the junior quarterback said. "Canton just made more plays than we did in the second half.

  "The first couple games this season we played a little too lackadaisical; we kind of took things for granted. But as the season went on, we came together as a family and showed everyone how we can play football."

  Caldwell picked up 73 yards on 12 carries for Plymouth.

  Defensively, Gunnis was all over the field for the Chiefs, compiling 13 tackles. Ben Poirer (nine tackles) and Jack Slater (seven stops) also stepped up for the Chiefs.

  Canton picked up more first downs (15-9) than the 'Cats and won the time-of-possession battle, 24:55 to 23:05.

  "These kids have nothing to hang their heads for," Sawchuk said, motioning toward his players. "I couldn't be more proud of a team than I am of them tonight. We've been through a lot of stuff this season -- a lot they can learn from and take with them the rest of their lives.

  "They're all winners in my book."

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