History Made by Canton Football Player

All-State football player and  used to be two phrases you would not hear in the same sentence. In fact until four years ago it would have been quite impossible.

But Nate Scott has changed all that. The senior linebacker became the first football player in Canton’s history to make the all-state squad in Class S. Granted, it has been a short history since the school reinstated the varsity program after a 40-plus year hiatus in 2007.

But the player nicknamed “the Beast” by opposing teams was just one of three linebackers in the entire state selected by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association for Class S. And you would think their decision to include Scott was a pretty easy one.

"You can’t stop him,” said Coach Roger Pearl. The coaches association obviously agreed.

Still, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Scott said he was " very happy... but definitely surprised" to learn of his selection.

Scott has grown with the Canton Varsity program. He began as a freshman, in the team's first year of existence and every year, "I progressed as a player,” he said. 

But his break-out season was indicative of something more than just progression. Scott said he worked especially hard leading up to this season and "hit the weight room a little more."

The results speak for themselves. In fact he was such a force that Pearl had to limit him in practice.

“He can’t hit in practice too much, because he could hurt someone,” Pearl said. 

In addition to playing a punishing brand of linebacker with a team-leading four sacks and three fumble recoveries, Scott was a special teams all-star, doing the punting and kicking for the team as well as blocking 2 extra points.

“He could have made all-conference as a punter also,” said Pearl.

Scott had 11 punts for 397 yards, an average of 36 yards per punt.

As if that wasn’t enough, he also rushed for two touchdowns and caught eight passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. In a 24-6 Warrior win over Granby, Scott scored 18 of his team’s 24 points, including a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, 3 extra points and a 24 yard field goal.

“He basically did everything,” Pearl said.

Scott, a senior, is currently mulling over his future. He plans to go to college, but is not sure he will play football next year. He plans to study engineering. Scott will certainly leave a void wherever he ends up next fall - not just as a player, but as a person.

“He is the nicest kid in the world … one of the best kids I have ever coached,” Pearl said. 

And as sad as Pearl is to see him go, he is excited about the future because there is another Scott on the way.

“His brother Eric is a freshman,” Pearl said.