General | August 26, 2021 | 23:05
Dearborn Fordson senior wide receiver Antonio Gates Jr. showed fans what Michigan State University is getting next year as he terrorized Canton defenders at the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic Thursday at Wayne State University.
Gates had two touchdown catches, two interceptions and a fumble recovery and 34-yard run back as Fordson (1-0) dominated the Chiefs (0-1) 38-23.
It was the Kensington Lakes Activities Association opener for both.
Gates, with his future Hall of Fame dad in attendance, had four catches for 91 yards while Lenard Covington had 11 carries for 106 yards.
"We knew watching film they had good corners,'' said Gates. "We felt that I was the better man and I showed that. I'm not really happy with my performance. I got caught on the sack fumble. I have to go back home and work on what I could have done better. I missed a tackle in the fourth quarter and gave up a touchdown. Big players make big plays.''
His coach, Fouad Zaban wasn't complaining.
"He stepped up and played really well today,'' said Zaban. "If we have to play him on defense we will. We're going to use his skill set. He's able to cover people and actually he played great at safety. He was outstanding on offense. They went to double team him, and it opened up things for our running game.''
Fordson came up with the first turnover of the game when Mohammed Sayed intercepted an Arturo Trevino pass with 9:09 left in the first quarter and returned it to the Canton 42-yard line.
"People don't know about him but he's one of the best slot receivers in the state,'' said Gates of Sayed.
Quarterback Alex Osman turned the turnover into points when he hit Gates on a 37-yard TD pass at the 8:14 mark to give the Tractors a 6-0 lead.
Osman and Gates extended the lead to 13-0 on another 37-yard strike, catching Gates in stride on a post pattern with 32 seconds left in the first quarter.
Driving in the second quarter, Canton had to take its last timeout when Trevino fell sick and vomited on the steamy field.
Trevino was replaced by Barrett Barker. The drive stalled when Gates came up with his first interception of the season on a floater from Barker with 4:50 left in the half.
Canton got its first points on a safety when the Fordson punter caught the ball in the end zone with a knee on the turf to make it 13-2.
Trevino returned and the offense got back on track. Canton ended the first half with Trevino throwing a four-yard TD pass to Janes with 12 seconds left to make it 13-9 at halftime.
Gates led the Dearborn attack with two TD passes and an interception while Wesley Faulkner had seven carries for 44 yards.
Fordson has 13 yards rushing in the first half, but Covington gained 62 yards on the first drive of the second half, extending the Tractors lead to 19-9 on a 32-yard burst with 9:49 left in the third quarter.
Gates came up with his second interception of the game and returned it for a touchdown, but the score was nullified because of penalties.
With 10:47 to play Osman threw his third TD pass of the game, an 11-yard strike to Sayed to make it 26-9.
After a Connor Hands fumble and 34-yard return by Gates, Ahmed scored on the next play from 47-yards to give Fordson a 32-9 lead.
Extra-point kicks proved to be the only negative for the Tractors.
When Wesley Faulkner scored on a 24-yard run for Canton, Fordson's Ahman Beydoun topped him with a 59-yard jaunt to make it 38-15.
