Dogs stampede to 54-27 win in wild shootout
By Dwight Otwell Editor

DWIGHT OTWELL/Sentinel photo Patrick Canizio (# 34) gets into the clear again as he rumbles for one of three touchdowns on the night. The junior rushed for 328 yards. Blocking are Andrew Nichols (#81) and Ian Reese (#11).

If you like offensive football, Friday night's scoreathon was pure joy.

The Bulldogs and Black Knights combined for almost 1,000 yards of total offense and over 900 yards rushing as the Dogs came out on top in the gridiron sprint 54-27.

Junior running back Patrick Canizio followed up last week's 181 yard rushing performance with 328 yards on 12 carries. He also caught a pass for 21 yards.

Senior Ian Reese added 113 yards rushing on only five carries. He caught two passes for 26 yards. Canizio averaged 27.3 yards per carry while Reese averaged 22.6 yards per carry, as the Dog runners ripped off long run after long run.

Murphy doubled the Knights' score but they had 15 first downs to 29 for Robbinsville. The Black Knights had the ball most of the night, maintaining possession for 36:06 to 11:54 for the Dogs. However, the Dogs' explosive offense averaged 19.4 yards per play compared to five yards per play for the Knights. Robbinsville had two 100-yard rushers but they pushed the ball down the field slowly and methodically, converting 13 of 17 third down plays. It rarely took the Dogs more than a minute or two to score once they got the ball.

JOHN BOURSCHEID//Sentinel photo Heath Curtis (#5) blocks an extra point attempt by Robbinsville Friday night. Curtis led the Bulldogs with 26 tackles.

The game started off as if neither defense would stop the other and it wasn't until the fourth quarter that the Dogs pulled away to a comfortable lead.

Robbinsville scored first on homecoming night for the Bulldogs. However, Reese pulled off a long run to tie the game at 7-7. In the second quarter Robbinsville scored but the Dogs blocked the extra point for a 13-7 Black Knight lead.

Taking the ball at its own 41, Canizio ran to the right and tore away from defenders into the endzone for a 14-13 Murphy lead.

Late in the second quarter, Murphy's defense finally stopped Robbinsville at the Dog nine-yardline. Canizio decided that a long drive was pointless as he ran 91 yards for a touchdown. He ran through the left side of the line, cut back and juked to avoid tacklers. The extra point gave Murphy a 21-13 lead.

DWIGHT OTWELL/Sentinel photo A Bulldog is brought down after a gain. The Dogs rushed for over 500 yards and added 61 yards in rushing yards.

Murphy's defense arose to the occasion and stopped Robbinsville on three plays, forcing them to punt. It appeared that the Dogs had scored another touchdown on a pass from Luke Charles to Canizio but the play was called back and the half ended.

In the third quarter, on the first play from scrimmage, Reese scooted all the way to the

endzone for a 27-13 Dog lead.

Robbinsville answered with a time consuming TD drive to make it 27-20. Murphy answered again, this time taking four plays to go 62 yards. The drive included a 13-yard pass to Andrew Nichols and another great Canizio run for 38 yards. Cody Killian got the TD this time, on a four-yard run.

JOHN BOURSCHEID/Sentinel photo Anthony Brown (#20) is off for a 51-yard touchdown jaunt. He only ran the ball once, but it was a success.

However Robbinsville again closed the Murphy lead to a single touchdown by marching for a score to make it 34-27 Murphy with 2:11 left in the third quarter.

On Murphy's next drive, Reese ran for three touchdowns but only one counted as two were called back because of penalties. On the first play of the final quarter, Reese got the TD that counted to give the Dogs a 41-27 lead.

Robbinsville tried to gain a first down on fourth and two but Heath Curtis stopped the runner short by a few inches. Canizio ran 43 yards for his third TD of the night on the next play, stopping, stuttering and changing directions as he left defenders grabbing air.

Sophomore Anthony Brown got his chance to shine as he rambled 51 yards for a TD to provide the final score of 54-27. The Dogs travel to Andrews Friday to take on the cross-county rival Wildcats. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Murphy Bulldogs team stats

JOHN BOURSCHEID/Sentinel photo Patrick Canizio (#34) takes off for another TD as Georgie Kerber (#10) leads.

First Downs: Murphy 15, Robbinsville 29
Rushing: Murphy 23 attempts for 503 yards,
Robbinsville 80 attempts for 404 yards
Passing: Murphy 4-6-0 for 61 yards, Robbinsville
0-1-0 for 0 yards
Fumbles: Murphy 1-0, Robbinsville 2-1.
Penalties: Murphy 11-87, Robbinsville 7-26
Murphy Bulldogs individual stats
Rushing: Canizio 12-328 for three TDs; Reese

5-113 for three TDs; Brown 1-51 for a TD; Killian
2-6 for a TD; Edwards 2-3;
Passing: Charles 4-5 for 61 yards; Kotchenruether
0-1;
Receiving: Reese 2-26; Canizio 1-21; Nichols
1-14;
Defense: Curtis 26 tackles; Stiles 22 tackles;
Lockett 14 tackles, Ledford 14 tackles, Kerber 11
tackles, Alvarez 11 tackles.