Canton, Ridgeland matchup has major implications

Canton, Ridgeland matchup has major implications

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This weekend's showdown between cross-county rivals Ridgeland and Canton has huge implications for both teams, and the confidence level on both sides of the field could hardly be higher.

The winner will move to 1-0 in Region 2-5A, which won't be won but might be lost Friday.

"The first district game means a lot to your program," Canton coach Calvin Bolton explained. "Those first four non-region games are big for your school, but it doesn't help you get to the playoffs. This weekend is when the season really starts."

Bolton's Tigers might be the surprise of the year in Madison County. Canton (4-0) will roll into Friday's game undefeated in non-region play with a slew of young stars who have stepped up in the first five weeks.

Three games is not a huge sample size, but eighth-grader Gavin Griffin has made a big splash early in his first year with the varsity squad. He's averaged five yards on 27 carries (for 136 yards) and scored two touchdowns and given the Tigers a second option at running back behind junior starter Semaj Peel (27 carries, 220 yards and two touchdowns).

Senior quarterback Jacobian Morgan has been sensational, completing 61 percent of his passes for 240 yards a game with 12 total touchdowns and just one interception.

Morgan has spread the ball around, as well. Juawon Taylor has caught a team-high 19 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns, but Tyrease Dunbar and Tyquan Henderson have also proved capable, combining for 24 catches for 558 yards and five scores.

If you cover two out of the three, Bolton said, the third will burn you.

"That's kind of been our motto week to week," he said. "Who is going to step up? So far, it's been someone different every week."

While the offense has been explosive, putting up 31 points a game, the defense has been the biggest difference-maker for Canton.

Canton is starting seven players who are either freshmen or first-year starters on that side of the ball, and they've only allowed an average 15 points a game.

"The defense is what I'm most proud of," Bolton said. "If everyone knew what we had to overcome and the losses at key positions, they'd be amazed. Those guys are playing hard on every snap."


They'll have their work cut out for them against a Ridgeland team that can really move the ball up and down the field.

Junior quarterback Zy McDonald has been as good as advertised, throwing for 283 yards a game with seven touchdowns without a turnover.

Like Morgan, McDonald has spread the love around - he's completed at least 10 passes to five different receivers, led by Richard Mays, who has 15 catches for 274 yards and four touchdowns.

McDonald is also the team's second-leading rusher with 192 yards and five touchdowns in four games.

"Zy is getting better at the (run-pass option) stuff," Ridgeland coach David White said. "That's great, because it's harder to account for a running quarterback when he's effective."

Ridgeland senior tailback Markel Young has been the most effective weapon on the field through four games. He's averaging 21.5 touches a game and has accounted for 112.5 yards per contest over that stretch.

"We are getting creative within our air raid scheme and getting it to to him on the swing route, flares and screens," White said. "He doesn't have the fastest twitch in the world, but he hasn't dropped the ball coming out of the backfield and has 17 catches in four games. We've just got to find a way to create better opportunities for him."

White gave his guys a couple of days off last week during the bye, but he said Tuesday they've spent a lot of time in the film room trying to prepare for Canton, particularly that potent Tiger offense.

The 137 points Ridgeland (3-1) has given up over the first four games seems like a huge number, but it's ballooned by the 62-21 loss to second-ranked Pearl. Outside of that game, the Titans have been competitive on defense, allowing 25 points per contest.

"(Morgan) is an athlete at quarterback and he's got great patience," White said. "He does a good job of sitting back there and finding open receivers, and they've got some guys that can really go up and get it. They are a good football team, and we're going to have our hands full."

That Ridgeland defense will get a slight boost this week from the return of outside linebacker Deshawn Banks, who has been banged up and missed the last two games.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday night in Canton.






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