H.S. FOOTBALL: Defense by committee to be Canton’s ‘signature’ in 2021

CANTON – After a pair of dominant runs in 2018 and 2019, the 2021 Fall II season didn’t treat the Canton High football team too kindly. 

The Bulldogs ended the spring with a 2-5 record and pointed the finger at insurmountable inexperience due to bringing back just three returning starters from the 2019 team that went 10-1 and reigned over the Hockomock League.

“This year, we definitely have way more experience,” said senior running back/linebacker Bahsor Mahn. “Everybody has way more confidence, a lot more guys know what they’re doing now and we all feel a lot more comfortable.”

More:H.S. FOOTBALL: Find all of our preseason coverage to get you ready for the year here

“Last year, we were under the weight (of losing) those seniors who were producing really well,” senior safety Andy Butler said of the down season. “They didn’t really have much time, especially with COVID, to write their own story and create their own identity. And that’s kind of what we were focusing on this summer, where we had more team-building stuff. We had team lifts together, we had 7-on-7 (passing leagues) and overall, I think the team’s much better this year."

“It’s a much better environment,” Butler added. “Everyone wants to be here, we have more energy at practice. All good things to see.”

Coach Anthony Fallon enters his second season anticipating his team’s improvement will stem from the defensive side of the ball, in particular. Fallon and his leaders hope it will emerge as the Bulldogs' hallmark behind the collective production of Mahn, Butler, senior linebacker Colin Albert and upperclassmen defensive backs Vinny O’Brien, Charlie Cox and Josh Richards. 

Mahn, Butler, Albert and O’Brien were all named captains.

“It’s going to be (our calling card). We play well on defense when we play in our weight class. We’re a good defensive team. We’re a little young up front, but our linebacker corps is solid and our secondary is really good,” Fallon said. “We’re in good shape defensively, for sure.”

“We have a good offense, too,” Mahn said, “but I think our defense is going to be our signature this year.”

“I enjoy it, for one,” added Mahn, whom Fallon dubs "the QB on our defense." “I’m glad that I have the ability to lead everybody on defense, I think it’s good. Last year, I was a little bit too timid, I feel. I feel like I left a lot out there, a lot to be desired, so I’m glad that I have another year and I can come back to make a better impact on the team this year than I did last year.”

Canton allowed 198 points through seven games in Fall II, and though the five losses stung in the moment, the shortcomings provided playing time to potential contributors eyeing a key role this fall.

“I love (playing) safety because you get to be the second quarterback of the defense. We have our Mike linebacker, who it usually is, but I get to make the coverage calls,” Butler said of commanding the secondary. “I get to see the plays unfolding, move people around.

“Last year was my first year doing that; I was a bit nervous because I was a junior telling the seniors, ‘Here you go, move side-to-side,’ ” Butler admitted. “But then this year with being a captain, I just love helping people get into position and then seeing it on film. (When) everyone’s in the right spot to make the tackle, (it) looks great.”

After the graduation of senior quarterback Robert Botelho, Fallon entered the preseason overseeing an ongoing quarterback battle between junior Hayden Rose and sophomore Owen Lane. Fallon has yet to name his starter for Week 1 against Dighton-Rehoboth on Friday and hopes whoever starts under center can jumpstart an offense that scored 70 points last season.

“Neither one has separated themselves. Even at the Tantasqua scrimmage, they split reps,” said Fallon. “One series, someone will throw the ball better, then the next series, someone will throw the ball better than the other. They both run the ball well, which is a good thing.”

Protecting the two quarterbacks hoping to earn the nod, senior Evan Lee and junior Julian Prentis anchor a young offensive line that also features sophomores Gio Diasasio and Cillian Collins.

“They’re young, but they’re big,” said Albert, who also takes carries at running back. “We have big kids this year and they’re tough. They’ll hit. They won’t give up. I have a lot of confidence in them this year. We’ve got a good line that’ll block and we should break out a lot this year.”

“I think this team has a lot of potential. I feel like we have an underclassmen team that has a lot of talent,” O’Brien agreed.

And as with all high school football programs coming into this season optimistic, the short offseason kept the Bulldogs focused on reuniting to avenge their first losing campaign since 2017.

“For everyone on the team, football’s been at the forefront of our minds for the past four months because it's a really short turnaround,” Mahn said. “We didn’t have a dragged-out offseason; everyone’s thinking about football coming into this year.”

“We’re destined for a good season,” Albert agreed. “We’ve put in the hard work, so I don’t see why we can’t come up positive this season, at all.”