With three players combining for six touchdowns, the Stoughton High football team defeated Canton, 40-13, Friday afternoon in Stoughton. It was the 88th meeting between the two schools, but the first not on Thanksgiving Day or Thanksgiving weekend.
Lennox Green, Malachi Baugh, who both left the game with injures, and Joe Girolamo scored the touchdowns for the Black Knights, while sophomore Jake Gibb, who also saw action at quarterback, kicked the extra points.
While the final score looked a like a blowout, the 4-1 Black Knights had their hands full with the Bulldogs for most of the afternoon.
"Canton is tough," said Stoughton High head coach Greg Burke. "Their offense is brutal and it's impossible to stop when it gets going. You have to have hope they put the ball on the ground."
The 0-5 Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-0 lead as left-handed quarterback Brian Hagan threw a perfect strike to Michael Harris. Freshman kicker Thomas Monagle added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
That lead was very short-lived. Green took the kickoff back 85-yards for a touchdown to tie the score at seven at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Girolamo recovered the first of two fumbles on the day, setting up a 57-yard touchdown run by Baugh for a 14-7 lead.
Right before the first ended, Green intercepted a Canton pass for a 45-yard score and a 20-7 halftime lead.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Hagan cut the lead to 20-13 on a 1-yard quarterback keeper.
Canton had the Black Knights stopped on their next drive, but was whistled for a roughing the kicker penalty on a punt. Stoughton quarterback Stanley Sajous then found Baugh down the left side for a 64-yard score and a 27-13 lead.
Girolamo put the game on reach with a seven-yard run and a 43-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.
"We will see them later in the year, and they'll be a lot better and hopefully, we'll be better," said Burke.
The two schools will meet for the 89th time on Thanksgiving Day in Canton at 10 a.m.
"We'll take it," said Burke. "We're 4-1 and we are happy."
The Black Knights will be back home next Friday for homecoming against the Sharon Eagles in a 3:45 p.m. game, while Canton will be hosting Foxborough at 7 p.m.
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