Bloom-Carroll falls to Canfield in first state finals game in program history
By: Maria Monesi
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CANTON, Ohio (WOUB) — Bloom-Carroll reached its first state title game in program history Friday afternoon but after a tough battle it came up short against Canfield 35-14.
The Cardinals wasted no time. Broc Lowry capitalized a dominant defensive start by punching it into the end zone to put the Cardinals up 7-0.
It was then time to see if the Bulldogs offense was up to the test. Ethan Thanthanavong struggled to get his offense moving down the field. The Cardinals defense held them to little gains and they weren’t able to do what they do best, which is run the ball.
The Cardinals limited the Bulldogs to just 69 rushing yards on the afternoon. The dynamic trio of running backs in Dylan Armentrout, Andrew Marshall and Chase Plantz couldn’t get past the defense.
As for the Bulldogs defense they tried to get the Cardinals off of the field but Lowry kept the ball on fourth down and took it to the end zone for a three-yard score, 14-0.
Canfield’s offense gave Bloom-Carroll’s physical defense trouble. It’s one that has been a problem for opponents all season long but it couldn’t stop the run.
An interception from Carter Cornelius in the second quarter gave the Bulldogs the opportunity to fight back but the offense couldn’t get the job done.
It wasn’t until late in the second quarter they finally looked to have found life on offense as Thanthanavong found his man Brodyn Bishop in the end zone to cut their deficit, 14-7.
In moments where it felt like things could point in a positive direction for the Bulldogs, the Cardinals shut things right back down.
Bloom-Carroll looked to carry the momentum from the score into the second half but Lowry had other plans. After a well put together drive he capitalizes with a two-yard run into the end zone for his third rushing touchdown of the afternoon, 21-7.
From there on out it was all Canfield.
Paul Bindas threw a pass to Lowry who took it 69-yards to the house scoring yet another rushing touchdown. Lowry finished with three rushing touchdowns, one receiving and another passing. He was dominant all afternoon and the Bulldogs couldn’t escape him.
“Obviously he’s their guy and we knew that coming in,” head coach Jeremy McKinney said.
The Cardinals third down conversions hurt the Bulldogs especially at the end where they couldn’t be stopped. They snuck past the Bulldogs two more times and a Chase Plantz score in the fourth quarter was ultimately too late as they snapped the Bulldogs 14 game win streak.
The state runner-up ending for Bloom-Carroll caps off an impressive season for the powerful group of seniors in the program.
“I have nothing but pride for how hard our team played and how much they’ve put into getting us here,” McKinney said. “They’ve set a new standard for Bloom-Carroll football that will never be forgotten.”