Canton controlled the game almost from the kickoff, scoring five touchdowns in the first half to institute a running clock in the second.

NPM quarterback Karson Dominick, who finished 13-for-26 for 177 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, was held in check in the first half as he was 4-for-12 for 40 yards with a pick in the opening frames. Canton did a good job of getting pressure on Dominick throughout the game as the senior QB was repeatedly flushed from the pocket and making seemingly every throw with several Warriors in his face.

Dominick did get things going in the second half, tossing two touchdown passes as Cooper Shaw was his top target, hauling in five catches for 40 yards with a touchdown, while Gabe Bellows had a 60-yard touchdown catch.

NPM just had 21 yards rushing on 21 carries in the game, with three of their five ball carriers finishing with no positive yards. Penalties also plagued the Panthers, who were flagged 10 times for 73 yards.

Canton took the opening kick-off and went 84-yards on 12 plays. A 31-yard pass play from Ben Fitch to Holcomb got them to midfield. Fitch got the NPM defense to jump on 4th-and-5 to get a new set of downs.

However, after a holding call and a sack, Canton was third-and-22 when Fitch found Davis on a 34-yard screen pass to get down to the NPM 5-yard line. Two plays later Fitch found Holden Ward in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown pass. Alexis McRoberts added the point after and it was 7-0 with 7:07 on the clock.

NPM’s ensuing drive ended in a Holden Ward interception, with the Warriors taking over on the Panther 47-yard line.

They would need just six plays to hit pay dirt as Fitch scored on an 11-yard touchdown run. Once again a NPM penalty helped Canton as the Panthers were called for an illegal substitution on third-and-4, giving the Warriors a first down. McRoberts’ kick was good once again and Canton led 14-0 with 28 seconds left in the opening quarter.

NPM went 3-and-out on their ensuing drive as Canton set up at their own 33-yard line and on the second play from scrimmage Davis took the hand-off and went untouched up the middle for 64-yards to the end zone. McRoberts hit the point after and it was 21-0 with 10:45 left in the half.

The Panthers used a strong kick-off return by Luke Kreger to get to midfield on their ensuing possession and  it appeared that NP-Mansfield would set up deep in Canton territory on a big pass play from Dominick to Kreger, but it was called back on a blind side block. They never recovered and were forced to punt.

The Warriors took over on their own 24-yard line and went 10 plays to pay dirt, ending with a 3-yard Davis punch. The kick after was no good, but Canton led 23-0 with 2:30 left in the half.

The Panthers would then go 3-and-out, giving Canton the ball back on the NPM 43-yard line.

On the first play from scrimmage Fitch hit Davis for a 33-yard gain down to the Panther 10-yard line. 

Fitch would then find Hudson Ward to the NPM 1-yard line. From there Davis punched it in, followed by Hudson Ward punching in the 2-point conversion with 12 seconds left to play in the half to make it 35-0.

NPM would find some life in the third quarter, as on their second drive of the half Dominick hit Bellows on a screen. Bellows made one defender miss then ran 60-yards down the sideline to the end zone. 

Dominick added the point after and it was 35-7 with 5:37 left in the third.

NPM followed that drive with an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive that ended with Dominick finding Cooper Shaw in the end zone on a third-and-10. The point after was no good, but the score made it 35-13 with 5:45 left.

Canton would answer, though, as they took over on their own 45-yard line. Fitch busted out a 34-yard run, followed by a 9-yard Davis run to the NPM 12-yard line. Hudson Ward then took it into the end zone from there. McRoberts hit the point after and it was 42-13 with 3:42 left to play.

NPM was driving on their final possession but a Ryland Sakers interception ended it, and Canton kneeled on the ball to run out the running clock.

The Panthers, now 0-2 on the season, visit Troy next Friday night.

CANTON 42, NP-MANSFIELD 13

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

C - Ben Fitch 3-yard pass to Holden Ward (Alexis McRoberts kick), 7:07

C - Fitch 11-yard run (McRoberts kick), :28

Second Quarter

C - Michael Davis 64-yard run (McRoberts kick), 10:45

C - Davis 3-yard run (kick failed), 2:30

C - Davis 1-yard run (Hudson Ward run), :12

Third Quarter

N - Karson Dominick 60-yard pass to Gabe Bellows (Dominick kick), 5:37

Fourth Quarter

N - Dominick 11-yard pass to Cooper Shaw (kick failed), 5:45

C - Hudson Ward 12-yard run (McRoberts kick), 3:42

Individual Stats

North Penn-Mansfield

Passing

Karson Dominick 13-26-177-2-2

Rushing

George Perry 4-17, Ethan Dick 2-0, Karson Dominick 9-14, Cale Wagner 5-(-9), Gabe Bellows 1-(-1)

Receiving

Cale Wagner 3-22, Cooper Shaw 5-40-1, Luke Kreger 3-46, Gabe Bellows 1-60-1

Canton

Passing

Ben Fitch 9-12-121-1-0

Rushing

Ben Fitch 15-117-1, Michael Davis 11-91-3, Holden Ward 2-20, Hudson Ward 3-11-1, Isiah Colton 1-2

Receiving

Michael Davis 3-76, Aydin Holcomb 2-36, Holden Ward 2-6-1, Hudson Ward 1-9

Team Stats

NP-Mansfield Canton

Rushes/Yards 21/21 32/241

Passing Yards 177 121

First Downs 9 17

Penalties/Yards 10/73 4/25

Interceptions: Canton - Holden Ward, Ryland Sakers