Mansfield Comes Back in the Second Half to Beat Canton 34-14

The Mansfield High football team came back in the second half to dominate the Canton Bulldogs, 34-14, on Friday in Canton.

While Canton had the lead during the first half, Mansfield’s passing game and offensive line slowly wore out the Canton defense.

Canton had a great opportunity in the first quarter with the first kickoff. Canton’s Elias Camacho made a stellar return to Mansfield’s 30-yard line in the first play of the game, and Canton moved up the field to Mansfield’s 1 yard line.

The Bulldogs couldn’t get past Mansfield’s defense and had to turnover on downs.

Canton kept up their offense push in the first half, relying on Camacho, Ian Glavin and Dexter Green for their amazing running game.

Mansfield took the early lead with a 27-yard pass to Daniel Collins. The extra point was good and Mansfield led, 7-0.

Glavin struck first for Canton with an amazing 55 yard run to the end zone. Miraculously, a failed kick from Canton for the extra point turned into a two-point conversion when a poor snap turned into a pass from Green to Kevin Foley. Canton took the lead 8-7.

Mansfield answered back after Michael Herschmans caught a long pass from Kyle Wisnieski and Robert Rapoza made key runs down the field., but Mansfield could not capitalize on the drive. Wisnieski fumbled and Canton’s Shane Nordgren recovered a fumble ran for a touchdown. Their conversation failed, bringing the score to 14-7.

Wisnieski made three passes to Brendan Hill in the next drive that culminated in Hill’s first touchdown of the night. Canton blocked the extra point and retained the lead 14-13 to end the half after a failed field goal attempt.

Mansfield dominated in the second half.

Mansfield’s Robby Rapoza made a 52-yard touchdown run to give Mansfield the lead at 19-14. 

Rapoza ran for the conversion to bring Mansfield to 21-14.

Brian Spillane got an interception to start a Mansfield drive that would give Mansfield the opportunity for Kevin Mackie to run in another touchdown to bring the score to 27-14.

Hill scored his second touchdown pass of the night in the fourth quarter. Mansfield kept Canton in check the rest of the night to win 34-14.

Wisnieski threw for a total of 221 yards for his time in the game.

“We knew they could run the ball, but we thought the difference might be our passing game,” Mansfield head coach Michael Redding said, who recorded career win No. 200. “It ended up being a pretty significant difference.”