In a season that continues to impress, the 2025 Canton Eagle varsity football team became a part of school history as they opened their post-season run with a 20-7 bi-district round victory over the Caddo Mills Foxes Nov. 14 at Royse City. Coach Heath Ragle’s Eagles, 10-1 overall, became the fifth team in Canton football history to achieve at least a 10-win season. The win over Caddo Mills earns the Eagles an opportunity to compete in the Class 4A, District 2, Area championship contest when they travel to Texarkana Pleasant Grove for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff Friday, Nov. 14. The Texarkana Pleasant Grove Hawks, 9-1 overall, are currently ranked #2 in the state behind defending state champion Carthage, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine. “I was very pleased with how we played against Caddo Mills,” recalled Ragle. “We made a lot of history last Friday night being the fifth team in school history to have a 10-win season and also, we won our first playoff game at Canton in 10 years. We have worked all season to put us in a position to make history and we are doing that and looking for more. “It was not an easy game against Caddo Mills,” emphasized Ragle. “We made enough mistakes to keep them in the game for a while. Caddo Mills is a well-coached football team. We did not do a good job offensively inside the five-yard line. Instead of scoring 21 points, we scored six. “Hats off to the defense,” said Ragle. “They came up with two huge turnovers in the second half. Our offense put together a great drive in the second half. We ran the ball well all night gaining over 400 yards on the ground. Overall, I was really pleased with the outcome.” “It was really a polar opposite to what we did against Sunnyvale the week before offensively,” pointed out Ragle. “Against Sunnyvale, we threw the ball pretty well and against Caddo Mills, we ran the ball well. That seems to be the way things have been all season for us offensively. That is what makes this team so special with the versatility that we can show offensively from week to week. Caddo Mills defensively was allowing us the opportunity to do more things with our running game.” Against Caddo Mills, which ended their season at 7-4, the Eagles finished the bi-district contest with 417 yards rushing and 51 yards passing for a total yardage of 468 yards. Eagle quarterback Cort Ray carried the ball 35 times for 205 yards rushing and one touchdown in addition to completing five out of 20 passes for 51 yards, no TD’s, and one interception. Running back Conrad Bastien registered 23 carries for 181 yards rushing in addition to a 19-yard pass reception in the game. Andres Galan kicked field goals of 22 and 25 yards against the Foxes. “Cort Ray runs the ball already like a veteran senior,” said Ragle. “He is a true competitor. Conrad Bastien had the best game of his career. He had some crucial runs in the game. Hats off to our offensive line against Caddo Mills. “Defensively, Calan O’Neill (defensive lineman) continues to be the leader of our defense,” emphasized Ragle. “He had three quarterback sacks giving him 10 for the season. He plays with such a high motor. The young kids on the team follow his lead. Carson Hawkins (defensive back) had nine or 10 tackles along with getting his sixth interception of the season played well. Our defensive line played well. Cason Kuhn (defensive lineman) made a huge play getting a turnover for us. Jaxon Gatlin (defensive lineman) forced a fumble in the second half by Caddo Mills. Caddo Mills’ longest pass completion was 17 yards. We limited their big plays in the passing game. We gave up one long run in the game. The defense was outstanding overall throughout the game. Branson Shamblee (linebacker) and Saul Lopez (linebacker) did a great job. Jayden Lopez (defensive back) did a good job in the game.” Ragle was also pleased with the kicking effort of Andres Galan. “Hats off to him,” said Ragle. “Cole McMahan came off our junior varsity roster to handle our deep snaps on punts, extra points, and field goals. That was his first varsity game, and he did a great job. 

Carson Hawkins did a good job of holding for Andres.” The Eagle head coach said that no new injuries occurred during the game against Caddo Mills. Before talking about the next opponent in the playoffs for the Eagles, Texarkana Pleasant Grove, Ragle addressed the issue regarding the location of the game. “We (Ragle and the Texarkana Pleasant Grove head coach) had agreed last week to play in Mount Pleasant on Thursday, Nov. 20,” recalled Ragle. “We then learned that Mount Pleasant had won their playoff game last Friday night and scheduled their next game at home on that same night, so they were no longer able to host us. “I immediately called Sulphur Springs ISD and Longview Pine Tree ISD and they were willing to work with us on scheduling the game,” continued Ragle. “Unfortunately, Texarkana Pleasant Grove at that point was unwilling to work with us on moving the game to another stadium anywhere in the State of Texas. I offered to let them pick a location and they were unwilling to do that. They would not work with us whatsoever. “That forced us to have to do a home-and-home coin flip, and we lost the coin flip,” summarized Ragle. “We will be playing at Texarkana Pleasant Grove Friday at 6:30 p.m. It was an unfortunate situation. I believe that the games should be played at neutral sites and that kids should have the opportunity to experience something new in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the coach at Texarkana Pleasant Grove does not see it that way. 

In 20 years of coaching, I have never experienced anything quite like this. It is what it is. We will prepare for our game to be played in their stadium Friday night.” So far as the game is concerned, Ragle said that the Hawks have earned their status as one of the top Class 4A, Division 2, programs in the state. “They are loaded with talent just like they are every year,” emphasized Ragle. “They are extremely athletic. They will probably have at least four different ball carriers in their running game offensively. They are big up front, very aggressive. Defensively, they are taking teams out of the game early. This is a big test for us, but we want to compete in big games like this to see where we are as a program. We will have to tackle well on defense. Offensively, we will have to put up some points for sure.” Ragle said that the Hawks will run offensively out of the ‘spread’ offense with a quarterback that is new compared to last season. “They have had 18 different players catch passes for them this season,” pointed out Ragle. “They throw the ball a lot. Defensively, they will show an ‘even front’ but they have also shown multiple looks as well. They are so athletic and so aggressive. Their kicking game is solid. With their depth, they are able to play a lot of fresh bodies in their special teams.” Despite the events that led the game to be played at Texarkana Pleasant Grove in a 6:30 p.m. kickoff Friday, Nov. 21, Ragle is encouraging the Eagle fans to show up in full force to support his team. 

“I just want our kids to feel loved and supported like they have all season from our community,” emphasized Ragle. “I know that Texarkana is a long drive and it is unfortunate that we will have to be playing there. Nevertheless, we are going there Friday night. We have a lot of people that have worked hard inside and outside of our football team to get to this point. I just want to see our fans travel well and pack the house in their stadium Friday night.” The winner of the Canton/ Texarkana Pleasant Grove matchup will take on the winner of the Carthage/Sanger contest in the regional semifinal round of the Class 4A, Division 2, state playoffs at a time, date, and location yet to be determined.