Salesianum’s Michael Drake (left) dislodges the ball from Appoquinimink’s Nicholas Ferrara in the second quarter of the Sals’ win in the DIAA state title game at Caravel Academy on Saturday.
GLASGOW – The last time Salesianum played for a state championship, Garrett Cannon watched from the sideline in a wheelchair.
On Saturday night, the senior captain scored the first goal and the last goal as the Sals capped another dominant season with a 16-7 victory over Appoquinimink in the championship game of the DIAA Boys Lacrosse Tournament at Caravel’s Bob Peoples Stadium.
Cannon was playing quarterback when he suffered a broken fibula, strained deltoid tendon and dislocated ankle during the Sals’ 27-21 win over Middletown in the semifinals of the DIAA Division I football playoffs on Nov. 27 at Baynard Stadium. He could only watch the following week as Sallies dropped a 32-26 decision to Smyrna.
Lacrosse practice began three months and one day later. Cannon had 10 screws and a plate in his ankle, but he made it.
“It was unbelievable,” the senior said. “With that injury, we weren’t sure exactly when the timeline was for me to be back. They said three to six months, so we kept shooting for three months to put me back right around March 1. That was the goal every single day in therapy, every day in rehab.”
He met the goal, and the top-seeded Sals (16-3) met their goal of a fifth state championship in six seasons. Cannon’s bookend goals came on passes from Michael Drake with 9:52 left in the first quarter and 5:01 left in the game.
“It’s all because of my teammates,” Cannon said. “None were unassisted, so I have to give all the credit to my teammates. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Cannon also wound up for a laser shot that pushed the Sals’ lead to 13-4 with 10:05 left in the third quarter.
“What he accomplished this year is absolutely amazing,” Salesianum coach Bob Healy said. “To come back from that type of injury, he worked so hard to get back. I think everybody was just so happy. From our first game, there was no letdown from him at all.”
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Sixth-seeded Appoquinimink (14-5) was the first Blue Hen Conference team to reach the final since Brandywine lost to Tatnall in the inaugural title game in 1993. The Jaguars were competitive early, as Cross Ferrara pumped in three first-quarter goals to keep his team within 5-3.
But the Sals dominated the second quarter, scoring seven straight to push the lead to 12-3. Senior Luke Bianchino, who had three goals and two assists, said speed was the key.
“We just wanted to keep the pace up,” Bianchino said. “The pace was huge. We love playing fast, we love playing together. We just had fun.”
The Sals played only three in-state opponents during the regular season, tackling a difficult slate filled with teams from Indiana, New York, Virginia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and even Canada. So they were more than ready for the postseason, outscoring their four tournament foes by a combined 72-23.
“Our schedule, without a doubt, prepared us for this game tonight,” Healy said. “It was extremely tough and challenging. But that’s what it’s all about, pushing these kids to be the best they can be on the field and off the field.”
Ferrara scored four goals and John Dunbar had two for Appo. In addition to Cannon and Bianchino, Drake had two goals and six assists and Taylor Witherell and Brett Hobbs each scored two each for Sallies.
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.