Canby ekes out 8-2 win over Vikings
Cole Sanow stood on the sidelines, shivering and shaking like everyone else in the damp, cold conditions of K. P. Kompelien field.
He hadn't played since early in the second quarter and all he could do was watch. When it was over, Sanow needed help limping off the field — the victim of a twisted ankle that limited him to seven carries and 53 yards. But the pain in his ankle may not have been as difficult as the pain he was probably feeling inside as Minneota lost to Canby, 8-2.
"It was a challenge we talked about at halftime," said Coach Chad Johnston. Not only did they miss his offensive skills, but Sanow is also one of the leaders from his linebacker position.
"Cole Sanow means alot (to this team) — and it showed," the coach added.
But the coach has always had the same philosophy and it came through again. "He can't play, some other guys have to step up," the coach added.
Sanow's replacement Conner Sik did step up. He knifed and slashed his way to 71 rushing yards on 12 carries, but in the end, it was the Canby defense led by Shane Noyes — along with Minneota's inability to make the big play when they needed it most.
"Give Canby credit, they got the momentum going early and we turned the ball over a couple of times. Those are things we can't afford to do," said Coach Johnston.
Canby used a 33-yard run down the right sidelines by Cameron Anderson , plus a 31-yard scamper by Ty Stoks, who broke through the line and got the Viking 10-yard line. With 1:45 left in the first half, quarterback Parker Viessman spied Kalib Greenman open in the end zone and hit him with a perfect pas. Stoks ran the two-point conversion and Canby led 8-0 at the half.
Coach Johnston called for his troops to step up without Sanow — and they did.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, several chances to score were met with Canby resistance and some strange turn of events.
Early in the fourth quarter Minneota's defense seemed to cause their own good fortune when Logan Sussner broke through and tackled punter Will Varcoe after a high snap to the punter. But instead of Minneota getting the ball on Canby's goal line, the referee's called it a safety and Minneota had two points, trailing 8-2. Canby had to kick after the safety. Minneota started at the Canby 39 and used an 18-yard pass to Sussner to get the ball to the Canby 12.
They drove it to the Lancers four — close enough for a first down measurement. But the Noyes-led defense stood the test and with 3:12 left in the game, Canby took the ball.
A short punt by Varoe on fourth down gave Minneota one more chance.
Sik rapped off a 12-yard run to get the Vikings within striking distance. But the running game stalled and quarterback Nate Lozinski tried a final fourth and five pass into the end zone. It was knocked down, Canby held and 58 seconds later the game ended.
"We had trouble throwing the ball," said Coach Johnston. Lozinski was just two of 14 for 18 yards and Tyler Sayre picked off both errant Lozinski passes.
"The weather and field conditions made both teams limited," said Coach Johnston. Although, Viessman hit seven of his 15 passes for 51 yards, including the touchdown strike to Greenman.
"At halftime we talked about controlling the line of scrimmage from both sides (offense and defense). We were better the second half," the coach said. Blake Reiss led the defense with nine tackles, seven of them solos and he had one tackle that resulted in lost yards. Sussner added four with a sack and was credited with the safety. Defensive tackle Beau Banish also stepped up with six tackles while Grady Moorse and Tucker Thooft added five apiece.
Minneota also lost Alex Saltzer for part of the game when he suffered a hamstring injury and had to come out of the game.
Canby's Noyes led the Lancers with seven tackles, five solos, a sack and two other tackles for lost yards.
"I have to credit Canby's two running backs (Stoks and Anderson). They ran hard and had big plays. And we just couldn't adjust," they coach said.
Stoks collected 118 yards rushing on 21 carries and Anderson added 55 more yards.
As for Sik's "coming out party" as a running back, the coach said, "Sik has a lot of ability and he had the opportunity step up. But we needed to do a better job of blocking for him."
He said the fact Minneota had the ball in scoring distance and could cash in, was a credit to Canby. "They made the plays," said the coach.
He called for his players to, "Remember the feeling," of losing. "You better be ready to play," he said.
Minneota now has a short turn-around with their final final reason game at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Granite Falls against Yellow Medicine East.
"It's a short week and this is the time of year when you have to step up," said the coach.
Canby 0 8 0 0 — 8
Minneota 0 0 0 2 — 2
First Quarter:
None
Second Quarter:
Canby-Kalib Greenman 10 pass from Parker Viessman. PAT-Ty Stoks run,
Third Quarter:
None
Fourth Quarter;
Minneota-Logan Sussner safety.
Team Statistics:
Minneota Canby
10 First Downs 8
4-40 Penalties/yds. 1-5
36-146 Rushes/yds. 35-162
18 Passing yds. 51
164 Total yards 162
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING (No., yds) Minneota-Conner Sik 12-71; Cole Sanow 7-53; Blake Reiss 6-36; AJ Josephson 1-0; Kade Lozinski 9 for minus 14. Canby-Ty Stoks 21-118; Cameron Anderson 12-55; Will Varcoe 1 for minus 10; Parker Viewssman 1-minus 1.
PASSING: (No., comp., int., yds.) Minneota-Lozinski 14-2-2-18; Canby-Viessman 15-7-0-51.
RECEIVING: (No., yds.) Minneota-Sussner 1-18; Sik 1-0. Canby-Sather 3-22; Greenman 2-15; Varcoe 2-14.
KICKOFFS: (No., yds., avg.) Minneota-Peyton Gillund 1-35-35.0; Canby-Kayden Reyerson 2-95-47.5.
KICKOFF RETURNS: (No.,yds) Minneota Reiss 1-31; Saltzer 1-0; Canby Hunter Cleveland 1-3.
PUNTS (No., yds., avg.) Minneota-Saltzer 3-108-36; Lozinski 1-36-36.0; Canby-Varcoe 3-93-31.0.
PUNT RETURNS: (No., yds.) Minneota-Total 3-9; Canby-Tanner Drietz 1-0; other 3-0.
TACKLES (Solo, assists) Minneota-Reiss 7-2; Sussner 3-1; Banish 3-3; AJ Myhre 2-2; Jayden Gamrak 2-0; Tate Walerius 2-0; Sik 1-0; Sanow 1-0; Moorse 1-4 Joseph Rybinski 1-1; Josephson 0-1; Josh Citterman 0-2; Cooper VanOverbeke 0-1; Jackson Esping 0-1; Canby-Varcoe 6-3; Greenman 5-2; Noyes 5-2; Stoks 3-0; Brayden Gravdal 2-3; Jake Wagner 2-2; Josh Steffen 2-0; Dylan Bruns 2-0; Sayre 1-1; KaydenReyerson 1-3; Cleveland 1-0.
TACKLES FOR LOSS: Minneota: Reiss, Sussner, Moorse 1 each, Gamrak 2; Canby Noyes 1.
SACKS: Minneota: Sussner; Canby: Noyes.
INTERCEPTIONS: Canby-Sayre 2.
FUMBLE RECOVERY: None.