Friday, September 11, 2026
NOVI — Novi intercepted Canton twice and reached the visitors’ 8-yard line before halftime Friday night. Neither opportunity produced points. Canton built a 21-0 lead, including a touchdown on an interception return, and defeated the Wildcats 33-6 at Novi High School.
The Wildcats’ opening possession ended in a punt, and Canton drove 55 yards for a 6-yard Dylan Parrish touchdown run. After Canton intercepted a Novi pass on the next series, Parrish led a 63-yard drive and found Jayden Fry for a 28-yard score. The Chiefs led 14-0 late in the first quarter.
Novi prevented that deficit from growing immediately. After the Wildcats lost a fumble, Canton took over at the Novi 46, but Alex Abler intercepted Parrish at the 11 to end the threat.
Early in the second quarter, Canton’s Augustus Guion intercepted Cody Walker and returned the ball 45 yards for a touchdown. That made it 21-0, but Novi’s defense soon handed its offense another chance. Nate Goodhew picked off Parrish at the Canton 37 and returned the ball four yards.
Starting at the Canton 33, Novi worked its way to the 8. Cook converted fourth-and-1 at the 14 to keep the drive going, but the Wildcats could get no farther. A third-down pass fell incomplete, and Walker was sacked on fourth down, ending Novi’s best first-half scoring opportunity.
Canton added two touchdowns in the third quarter. Elliott Patten finished an 80-yard drive with a 33-yard run, and Parrish later connected with Liam Wilson for an 11-yard score. Novi trailed 33-0 before putting together its touchdown drive late in the period.
Walker opened that 67-yard possession with a 16-yard pass to Cam Ellison. A 16-yard completion to Dante Darling, followed by a Canton face-mask penalty, moved the ball to the Chiefs’ 20. On third-and-12, Walker found Darling for 21 yards to the 1. Walker scored on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter; the conversion pass failed.
Novi kept Canton off the scoreboard in the final quarter. Colt Campbell blocked a 38-yard field-goal attempt, and Eli Whitesel returned the loose ball 15 yards. Ayden Marcum led the Wildcats with 11 tackles and a sack, while Abler and Goodhew accounted for the two interceptions.
Walker completed 21 of 32 passes for 196 yards. Darling caught nine for 91 yards, and Jackson-McGowan had four for 42. Novi finished with 222 yards of offense to Canton’s 402. The Wildcats’ defensive plays gave them openings, but two interceptions and two lost fumbles kept the offense from turning those chances into a closer game.