Warriors Fall To Athens, 48-42, In Back-And-Forth Game

By: Chris Manning  |  September 8, 2024  /  Photo: Chris Manning

Canton dropped a 48-42 thriller to Athens in NTL football action.

It was back and forth all second half with the Warriors having a chance to win it at the end the game winning pass fell incomplete.

Bailey Gardner ran for 110-yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, while Ben Fitch had eight rushes for 44-yards and two touchdowns. Fitch was also 11-for-17 for 110-yards with a touchdown.

Aydin Holcomb was his top target, hauling in six catches for 79-yards and a score, while Zach Colton had two catches for 24-yards.

After spotting Athens a 14-0 lead in the first quarter the Warriors used Gardner touchdown runs of eight and 26-yards to cut it to 14-13 as Alexis McRoberts went 1-for-2 on extra points.

Fitch then punched one in from 2-yards out to take a 20-14 lead after McRoberts' kick.

Athens got a fumble recovery in the end zone just before half to go up 21-20.

The two teams alternated scores in the third quarter as Gardner put Canton up with a 6-yard run. He ran in the 2-point conversion for the 28-21 lead.

Athens would tie it up, only to see Canton take another lead with a Fitch 16-yard run. McRoberts' kick was true for a 35-28 lead. Athens would tie it up just before the horn.

Fitch ran in a 10-yard touchdown run to start the fourth. McRoberts made it 42-35 with 10:57 left to play in the game.

However, Athens answered with a touchdown on their next drive to tie things up. The Wildcat defense then stopped Canton, and scored the go ahead touchdown with 49.8 seconds left.

The Warriors drove down the field but came up just short on the final play.