Average Attendance: 2,606
The Canton Cougars were an inaugural UIFL team. Ray Marrow and Marc Pullen were the primary passers for the Cougars, combining for 2,292 yards, 53 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. Cougars receivers Tim Smith and Ryan Brinson combined for 30 touchdowns and 1,626 yards. The team amassed just nine rushing touchdowns to their opponents’ 21. The Cougars were hampered by many difficulties on offense, including a 22% third down conversion rate and allowing 50 sacks. Despite their many struggles, the team did compete well with the league’s second best team in Saginaw. The Cougars’ lone win came on a 14 yard touchdown pass with six seconds left for a 53-52 home victory. A few weeks later in Saginaw, the Cougars missed a game-tying extra point with 14 ticks left on the clock. The low point for the Cougars was a 45-0 shutout loss at Eastern Kentucky. The team finished in sixth place in the UIFL’s first year and did not qualify for the postseason.
