Vitals

• COACH — DANTE BOFFI (2nd year, 1-9)
• CONFERENCE — Pequot Uncas
• PLAYOFF CLASS — S (236 boys enrollment)
• HOME — Canton High School Turf Field
• 2017 RECORD — 1-9
• 2018 OPENER — Sept. 8 at Coginchaug/Hale Ray/East Hampton, 6 p.m.
• TEAM WEBSITE — MaxPreps

Top players

• CARTER GAVIN, Jr., RB/LB (6-1, 205)
• CHARLIE PARCHEN, Sr., OG/DT (6-3, 250)
• GAVIN WOOD, Sr., TE (6-3, 260)
• DUGAN LLOYD, Sr., QB (6-3, 195)
• DONOVAN MACKIN, Sr., WR/CB (5-10, 150)
• JACK SZCZEPANSKI, Sr., LB (6-0, 175)
• BRAYDON FLUCKINGER, Sr., FB/NT (5-7, 215)
• RYAN DELAHOY, Sr., OT/DT (6-2, 265)
• MAX KLINKERT, Sr., DE (6-1, 230)
• ALEX COLUMBIA, Sr., C (6-0, 210)
• CARSON HUMPHREY, Jr., S (6-0, 185)
• JOEY FITZGERALD, Sr., DE (6-0, 170)

Key losses

OT/DT Travis Abate; FS/QB Caleb McKane (moved)

Outlook

The last seven years have been quite a roller-coaster ride for Canton football — and second-year coach Dante Boffi is confident his Warriors are back on the upswing. After going winless in 2011, Canton went 7-3 in 2012 and 7-4 in 2013 and was in contention for a Class S state playoff berth both years.

The Warriors finally broke through in 2014 and qualified for the Class S-Small School tournament, falling to eventual champ Capital Prep/Achievement First in the semifinals.

Two consecutive winless seasons followed.

In Boffi’s first season at the helm last year, the Warriors went 1-9 and notched their first win three seasons. Boffi said he feels like the team is starting to turn the corner, and for good reason.

The Warriors have quite a few experienced juniors and seniors back in key positions, including seven starters on offense and seven more on defense.

Junior running back Carter Gavin led the team in rushing yards and touchdowns last year. He will once again be running behind a beefy offensive line led by senior guard Charlie Parchen — who tallied 22 pancake blocks last year, and who Boffi called “the best offensive lineman in the Pequot” — along with senior tackle Ryan Delahoy and senior center Alex Columbia.

Senior quarterback Dugan Lloyd helped orchestrate the Warriors’ break-through, 30-28 victory over Nonnewaug last October. He’ll once again have some talented weapons at his disposal, including senior tight end Gavin Wood, who led the team in catches and touchdown catches and is a dominant blocker, senior wideout Donovan Mackin, who led the team in receiving yards, and fullback Braydon Fluckinger, who Boffi called “a workhorse.”

On defense, look for Parchen, Fluckinger and Delahoy to bolster the interior front, with seniors Max Klinkert and Joey Fitzgerald locking down the two end spots. Senior Jack Szczepanski and Gavin will lead the linebackers, and Mackin and junior Carson Humphrey will solidify the secondary.

2018 Schedule

• Sept. 8 — COGINCHAUG/HALE RAY/EAST HAMPTON*, 6 p.m.
• Sept. 14 — at Stafford/East Windsor/Somers**, 6:30 p.m.
• Sept. 21 — at Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton/Lyman Memorial**, 7 p.m.
• Sept. 29 — at Gilbert/Northwestern**, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 5 — ELLINGTON**, 7 p.m.
• Oct. 20, at Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby**, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 27, at Woodstock Academy, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 2 — SMSA/UNIVERSITY/CLASSICAL,** 7 p.m.
• Nov. 9 — vs. ROCKVILLE,** 7 p.m.
• Nov. 21 — vs. GRANBY MEMORIAL,** 6 p.m.

Home games in CAPS
**Division game
*Conference game