Canon-Mac grinds out win over rival Peters Twp.
Beating your rival is always special.
But considering what Canon-McMillan coach Mike Evans went through last year in battling cancer, Friday’s win carried even more meaning for all involved for the Big Macs.
Ty Jansma completed four straight passes on the first possession of the third quarter, including a touchdown throw to Roman Cimarolli to help Canon-McMillan secure a 19-3 victory over Peters Township Friday night at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium.
Evans returned to his longtime coaching gig with the Big Macs Friday after taking a sabbatical last year while receiving treatment for liver cancer.
“It was good,” Evans said of being back on the sidelines. “There were times I felt maybe a step behind, but I have so many good coaches on this sideline that I’m lucky to be here.
“You go through the summer and through camp and once the articles start coming out and you come out to these games and the stands are packed and you see the pageantry and hear the band…that’s what it’s all about. That’s when you start thinking about how you weren’t able to do this last year. High school football is awesome.”
Evans left his Alma Mater victorious, and Canon-McMillan snapped a three-game losing streak against their rivals. The Big Macs’ last win against the Indians was in 2022.
Cimarolli had a 10-yard interception return with 3:26 remaining to put the game on ice.
Peters Township didn’t make it easy, however.
It was a valiant effort for a new-look Indians team after the graduation of 19 seniors that led them to last year’s WPIAL Class 5A championship.
That included a goal line stand with 3:40 remaining in the game, but the Indians couldn’t generate enough on offense to keep pace.
“A lot of credit to them,” Evans said. “They have a lot of new things going on and they easily could’ve won that football game. It was a good game between two rivals.”
Canon-McMillan led 5-3 at halftime.
Both teams gutted through a slog of a first half that resulted in a halftime score resembling a baseball game, but the Big Macs broke through for the game’s first touchdown when Jansma hit Cimarolli, who dove across the goal line for a 40-yard touchdown.
“We talked about some things at halftime and part of our plan was to try and get the ball outside to get down the field,” Evans said. “We weren’t doing that as much in the first half and it worked out.”
Jansma passed for 198 yards and hit nine different receivers.
On Peters Township’s next possession, Indians quarterback Talen Stauffer had a third-down pass tipped and it went into the waiting hands of Brayden Collins for an interception.
That set up the Big Macs at Peters Township’s 39, but they failed to take advantage. A fourth down sack by Cole Camilletti on Jansma ended the drive.
Peters Township used the ground game of Jackson Namy and Jaden Blair to drive inside the Big Macs 20, but the drive stalled at the 15 and it ended with a turnover on downs.
There weren’t any touchdowns in the first two quarters, but the game didn’t lack for interesting moments.
Peters Township caused the first turnover of the game on the first play of the second quarter.
Some confusion for the Big Macs led to a fumble and Cooper Donovan scooped the ball up near midfield.
The Indians cashed in the turnover.
A couple of long scrambles by quarterback Talen Stauffer set up a 30-yard field goal, which Brayden McGee booted through the uprights. That gave Peters Township a 3-2 lead with 9:02 remaining until halftime.
Cimarolli returned the ensuing kickoff across midfield to the Indians’ 45.
A screen pass from Jansma to Braelon Wingfield set up first and goal at the five for Canon-McMillan, but the drive sputtered there.
Rhys Maentz connected on a 21 yard field goal and the Big Macs retook the lead, 5-3, with 4:53 remaining until halftime.
Canon-McMillan got on the board first with a safety four minutes into the contest.
A nice punt by Maentz pinned Peters Township at its own five yard line.
After a delay of game penalty backed up the Indians inside its own three, Canon-McMillan defenders swarmed through the line and tackled Indians running back Jackson Namy in the end zone.
Prior to the safety both teams went three and out on their first possession.
Canon-McMillan got good field position after the safety, starting on its own 40, but failed to take advantage, going three-and-out.
Canon-McMillan 2 3 7 7 – 19
Peters Township 0 3 0 0 – 3
CM: Safety, 8:40 1st
PT: Brayden Magee 30 field goal, 9:02 2nd
CM: Rhys Maentz 21 field goal, 4:53 2nd
CM: Roman Cimarolli 40 pass from Ty Jansma (Maentz kick) 11:03 3rd
CM: Cimarolli 10-yard interception return (Maentz kick), 3:26 4th