By BRIAN ROACH
SCITUATE – Scituate showed in the last two weeks that it can play any style of ball and be successful.
A week after outscoring Holliston in a sectional semifinal (57-34), the Sailors defense rose to the challenge, taking care of Canton, 21-0, to win the Div. 5 South title last night.
“They were motivated and fired up to play defense tonight,” said Scituate coach Herb Devine. “They just went out and played and we did a great job all night playing defense and being prepared for what (Canton) wanted to do.”
Canton (8-2) was held to just 53 total yards in the first half. They moved the ball a bit more in the second half, but finished with just 114 yards of offense, including two three-and-outs and two intercepted passes by senior Dan May.
“We knew coming into this week after scouting them that Canton is a really good team and they have a great quarterback,” said junior running back Will Sheskey about his team’s ability to make plays on the defensive side of the ball. “In the rain, it is old-fashioned football and we came out and did what we did. They made some big plays, but we came back right there and that’s how we play Sailor football.”
May’s second pick came with 2:52 left in the third around midfield. The offense picked up the rest as a nine-play drive was capped off by senior Aidan Sullivan’s keeper from one-yard out on fourth down to make it 21-0 with 8:46 to go.
“We were trying to be smart with the ball because I thought our defense had (Canton) figured out,” Devine said about running the ball six out of nine plays on the final scoring drive. “The weather became a factor (as well).”
Sullivan finished 10-of-15 for 220 yards with a TD pass while also scoring on the ground. The TD pass came on a short screen pass to Sheskey that the junior took to the house from 62 yards out to make it 14-0 in the second quarter.
“I saw the backers and I had to turn quick because I knew the pressure was going to be on Aidan,” Sheskey said about the longest play of the day for either team. “I turned ball and I didn’t know who was behind me. I turned and I was just looking for my blockers upfield. I got some good blocks and they led the way. A great play overall. A great team play.”
Sheskey did the rest of the work for the offense as he muscled his way for 142 yards on 26 carries and scored from five yards out to open up the scoring for Scituate (9-1) on its first drive to make it 7-0 early on.
