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David’s pick seals NPM win over Canton

CANTON — Canton was in a state of pandemonium. The Warrior faithful could taste another win against a longtime NTL nemesis and a chance at an undefeated regular season. Facing a three-point deficit with under two minutes to go, Canton needed a miracle and they got a glimmer of it when North Penn-Mansfield fumbled at midfield.

A week after topping undefeated Wellsboro, Canton fans believed they were going to witness another improbable win with good field position and two timeouts. It was destiny, until Garrett David ripped it away.

David backpedaled to the deepest part of his zone, read the eyes of Michael Smithers, leaped high into the air and with his two-glove covered hands, plucked the ball from the grasps of a rolling Canton team and put an end to its undefeated regular season.

David’s interception with 1:50 remaining sealed a North Penn-Mansfield win over previously undefeated Canton, 25-22, on Friday night at Miller A. Moyer Stadium.

David ran the ball three straight times after the turnover, running the clock down to under 20 seconds. Ian Lisowski’s booming punt made Timmy Ward backpedal deep into his own territory and while reversing fields a couple of times, he was finally mobbed as the final horn sounded.

“It was the right person at the right time. That’s the kind of player he is,” North Penn-Mansfield coach Tom Dickinson said of David.

“That fumble really hurt us in the beginning. We brought it together and won as a team,” David said. “I came up with the play at the end when I had to.”

It was a needed play for the Panthers if they wanted to stop a Canton team that has seemed to make big plays in big moments all season long after wins over Towanda, Muncy and Wellsboro. It was the final big play in a game full of them and it set up another NTL showdown next week when the Panthers (7-2) take on 8-1 Wellsboro.

“We knew we had everyone’s back and the defense made big plays,” North Penn-Mansfield quarterback Brent Burleigh said. “Garrett came up with the pick the very next play and we came out with a win.”

Burleigh played turnover-free football with 220 yards and two touchdowns, Dylan Meyer (seven receptions, 60 yards, two touchdowns), Justin Shedd (three receptions, 62 yards) and Mikah Kolb (90 total yards) came up with big plays on offense and a defense forced two fourth-quarter turnovers, including an early interception by Noah Spencer, and had a safety in the third quarter after a turnover on downs. After starting 1-2, NPM is right where it wants to be heading into next week’s big game.

“We were in a battle until the end of course. It hadn’t been that way. We survived the test. The kids never put their heads down and they’re (Canton) a gritty team,” Dickinson said. “…Truly, it came after the Bloomsburg game when we were 1-2 and had a lot of mistakes. We said we have to fix this and go on a seven-game win streak and we’re at six in a row now and they’ve taken that attitude just one at a time. They’re getting better in practice every day and in each game.”

After falling behind 10-0 in the first half, the Warriors came storming back late in the second quarter. After it appeared NPM forced a three-and-out, a roughing the kicker penalty kept the drive alive. That’s all the help Canton needed. On a 4th and 26 with under 10 seconds remaining, Uriah Bailie (172 passing yards, 3 total touchdowns) lofted a deep pass into the corner right in front of the end zone and Ben Knapp (3 receptions, 54 yards, 2 touchdowns) came down with the Rob Gronkowski-like catch as time expired as ran into the end zone to cut the lead down to, 10-8, after the two-point conversion. On its second drive of the third quarter, Bailie gave Canton its first lead when he hit Knapp again for a touchdown pass from 17 yards out.

All the momentum was on the Warriors’ side and they were taking control. Smithers came up with a huge stop on 4th and goal when he shed a block and stopped the ball carrier from reaching the end zone. But two plays later, Smithers reached the end zone, his own end zone, when Roch Minnich busted through for a safety.

NPM received the ball on a short field, marched right down the field and on 4th-and-5 from the nine-yard line, Burleigh hit Meyer on a great slant pattern to give NPM the lead.

“He made a lot of plays. That one touchdown on fourth down, the slant, he wanted that call,” Dickinson said. “He made a great call to get us out of the whole and get it to Garrett up the sideline. He played a great game and that’s what you’re hoping from your senior quarterback and he did it.”

Burleigh marched his team down the field on the next offensive drive, including a big 20-yard pickup on 4th-and-3 to keep the drive alive. Moments later, David capped the drive with a seven-yard touchdown that appeared to put the game out of reach with just over six minutes remaining. Until Bailie, who played an amazing game, nearly brought his Warriors back with a five-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes remaining. Canton failed to recover the onside kick, but still had a chance to win until David played spoiler.

“People doubted us in the beginning I think. We came here as the underdogs,” David said. “Nobody expected much. We came here, did our job, played well and showed people what we’re made of.”

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