This weekend’s game is the last of the regular season for Canton Warriors. The NTL rivalry is fierce. Support the Warriors and show your team pride! Both teams are rivals during the regular season, but on Friday nights, they play one another in the state championship game. To keep the Warriors in the championship, you’ll need to support them by coming out. Here are some things to do for Canton Warriors fans. Enjoy a great game this weekend by showing up early!
Table of Contents
Dan Stankiewicz
A big surprise on Saturday was the high-scoring performance by quarterback Jackson Rome. He ran for 167 yards and completed five of eight passes for 112 yard. The quarterback also had an interception. The Warriors were able to stop the Flying Dutchmen, who gained 206 yards on the ground and threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Jarrell Payne had six tackles, including two for a loss, and Willie Garner had five catches for 91 yards. Running backs Julian Ryans and Jordan Rivera each rushed for 82 yards.
The Warriors return a handful of starters from last year’s team. A few of them are seniors: Cruz Blair and Landon Dean, both of whom were key contributors as freshmen. Other Warriors players will be on the defensive side of things, including Jake Fletcher and Trent Long from Clifton-Clyde, and Jake Gleue from Southern Coffey County.
In addition to Stankiewicz, the Warriors return five seniors from the 2016 squad. These seniors are Corey Bryant, Sam Logan, and Carlos Ibarra from TMP-Marian. They also have some players from other teams. Stankiewicz is not the only player on the Warriors’ roster. Other local high schools include Jacob Garbee, Thomas Johnson of La Crosse, and others.
On offense, the Warriors have several juniors and seniors. Cole Coughlan, junior at Wichita Collegiate, and Cameron Brown, senior at Andale, are all capable of doing their part in the offense. Besides Stankiewicz, other key players include Sam Kleidosty and Noah Bruce of Mulvane. Also, Jace Boswell, Jack Francis and Ryan Sutton, sr. at Rose Hill are also capable of contributing.
Andy Livezey
Andy Livezey, a former wide receiver for the Canton Warriors, was a respected member of the local football community. A member of the zoning board, he volunteered his time for community projects and tutored local children in math. In his spare time, he enjoyed golf, reading, and visiting with his family. His athletic prowess was well-known even into his nineties.
Livezey grew up in a mining family and worked for the company for several years. Later, he worked for Parker Pneumatic Division. He was a member of many clubs and was a communicant at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, Canton. In addition to his professional football career, he also coached Little League baseball, basketball, and pee wee football.
Matt Machmer
Inducted into the Canton Warriors Hall of Fame, running back Matt Machmer averaged over 118 yards per carry as a senior. He was the leader of the Twin-Tiers, with more than 1200 yards rushing. Matt Curry was difficult to tackle in open field. He never stepped out of bounds and made defenders pay when they were tackled. Among the other highlights of his career was a four-year stint at the University of Tennessee as a wide receiver.
Dan Shaffer was a three-year varsity starter for the Warriors, starting at center, offensive guard, and middle linebacker. He was awarded All-NTL and Twin Tiers honors each season. He believes we should have run a WHAM instead. Dan Shaffer, who was playing center for Warriors, worked to keep his coach out of games. He was named All-Twin Tiers and NTL honors his senior year.
Canton scored on its next two possessions. They scored touchdowns on a 49 yard rushing touchdown by Riley Parker, and a one yard rushing touchdown from Matt Machmer. After a scoreless first quarter, the Warriors went on a 70-yard drive to tie the game. On the next series, Lister completed three passes, one to Matt Machmer for a two-yard touchdown. The Warriors won the game despite the loss.
Ivan Koch was a long-standing member of the Bradford County Firemen’s Association. He was a trustee on the board and Sunday school superintendent. In 2000, he was president of Pennsylvania State Firemen’s Association. He was also active with the Firemen’s Legislative Federation of Pennsylvania. Andrew Moody, Matt Machmer’s nephew, is a member of the Canton Lions Club.
Matt Warrior
Matt Warrior was a full-time running back for Canton Warriors in 1991. He averaged over one hundred yards per match. He was the team’s leading scorer, averaging 34 points per game. His team also led the Twin-Tiers with over 1200 yards of scoring. The Warriors couldn’t stop Matt Curry in open field. His right arm was extremely powerful, allowing him to throw the ball over the backstop when a runner was trying to score from first.
Despite being outgained in the receiving department by a larger opponent, the Warriors were unbeaten with Brock Hillyer going 8-12 for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns. With 42 yards, Josh Gregory and 22 yards each, David McKeivier led the Warriors in receiving. The Warriors’ strong rushing performance was evident throughout the game. Senior back Mike Delaney rushed for 139 yards and one touchdown. During the game, the Warriors also recovered three fumbles.
Canton was also crowned a PIAA Division I Champion for the first time ever in school history. While Canton is a first-year NCAA Division I school, the Warriors have been able to make a name for themselves on the national scene. Next weekend, they will take on Bishop Guilfoyle. Canton will be in Final Four when the PIAA Class A finals return.
Three-time Canton High School player, who played offensive guard and center, and middle linebacker, was awarded All-NTL honors and All-Twin Tiers honors. Although he was not the most explosive athlete, his ability to block and run the football was critical in the team’s success. He was a strong teammate and a valuable player for the Canton Warriors. He is expected to be the team’s senior captain.
William L. “Monty” Spencer II
Monty Spencer, a Canton resident, died February 15, 2008. He was 47 years old. He was employed by VCT Flooring in Columbus, Ohio. He loved to play the guitar and spend time with his family. He was proud to be a member of the Canton Warriors football club. His family will miss him. His wife Marion, his four daughters, and four grandchildren are his survivors. Monty also leaves behind a loving wife, Mary.
Spencer was born to a mining family and was raised in Canton. He worked as a miner for several years. Later, he worked at his sister’s restaurant in Roaring branch. He was active in several clubs and was a communicant at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, Canton. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and he continued to be active in his community.
He was the son and daughter of Mary (Wildman), Spencer. Both Spencer’s parents were Canton natives. Spencer’s passion for sports was evident in his love of the game. He was a long-time fan of the Cleveland Browns and played for the Canton Warriors football team for many years. He was also a part of the basketball team Canton Warriors.