Sean Cannon's three-TD performance starts Kellenberg off on right foot
Sean Cannon, Kellenberg wide receiver, right, gets congratulated by teammate Peter Sluka after making his third touchdown reception of the afternoon in the fourth quarter of a non-league football game against Arlington at Kellenberg on Saturday. Credit: James Escher
While the Kellenberg home crowd reacted to a penalty negating what would have been a 50-yard touchdown pass, one fan’s voice suddenly pierced the air with a hefty request for the offense: “Do it again!”
Sean Cannon was happy to accommodate.
Cannon caught a screen pass on the ensuing play and turned upfield for a 64-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter, putting Kellenberg ahead for good in a 34-16 victory over Arlington (Lagrangeville, NY) in a non-league football game Saturday afternoon.
The eye-catching moment was just one of Cannon’s three touchdown receptions, and his second of 60-plus yards. He gave his quarterback, Devin Page, all the credit for his remarkable performance.
“I’ve got Devin on my side,” said Cannon, who had 10 catches for 201 yards, three touchdowns and 11 tackles. “If I run the right route I know that Devin will get the ball there.”
Page completed 18 of 21 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns, and added 11 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown.
First-year Kellenberg coach Eric Meisse raved about Cannon’s overall versatility.
“He’s incredible,” Meisse said. “He does it all. He makes tackles, punts the ball, kicks the ball, kicks extra points. We rely on him; he’s a special talent.”
Leading 20-16 after his 64-yard score, Cannon hauled in a 15-yard touchdown over the middle with 11:53 remaining to stretch the lead to 27-16. Page added the final touchdown with about three minutes left on a 20-yard scamper down the right side.
With Kellenberg coming off a 4-5 campaign in 2021, Cannon said his team's performance was far more than just a routine season-opening victory, it made a bold statement.
“I’m really happy that we came out here and put the whole league on notice and stop underrating us,” Cannon said. “These guys have been here for four years now. We’re here to come out and get a championship.”
Page echoed that sentiment.
“We’re here to compete and Kellenberg is a top-tier football program in New York,” Page said.
Arlington’s James Davenport returned a safety free kick 60 yards for a touchdown with 3:48 remaining in the first to give Arlington its first lead at 9-6.
Brendon Price’s 15-yard touchdown reception with 1:32 left in the opening half extended Arlington’s advantage to 16-6, but Kellenberg quickly responded 53 seconds later.
Page lofted a pass down the right sideline to Cannon for a 66-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 16-13 entering halftime.
Meisse believed the timing of Kellenberg’s first big play had a carry-over effect in the second half.
“That was huge,” Meisse said. “It’s great to have two playmakers on the field and that swung the momentum back to us going into the half.”
Kellenberg’s defense found a spark after returning from the locker room, as they forced two turnovers – a fumble and an interception – and shut out Arlington the rest of the way.
Kellenberg also received a strong running day from Ethan Cumming, who had 10 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown.
But it was Cannon who couldn’t be contained.
“He makes me look too good,” Page said. “I think he can be a big college athlete and any school that can get their hands on him is going to be lucky.”
