A TRIPLE THREAT CARRIES CANYONS.Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer VALENCIA - Sure, they'd all like to run the ball, and the show, for College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. on their own. But while Major Caldwell, Marquis Brignac and J.J. Arrington must settle for triple billing, they provide the Cougars with a triple threat at running back. Coach Chuck Lyon has successfully kept everyone content through the 3-1 Cougars' first four games. Caldwell has the most carries (46) and yards (230), followed by Arrington (31 attempts for 204 yards) and Brignac (28 for 190). Combined, they've scored nine touchdowns. But are they happy with sharing the job? ``No, they're not. Good running backs are competitive. They want the ball. And I can understand that,'' said Lyon, whose team today faces Cerritos, ranked first in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . ``It's a blessing. Very rarely do you have three that good. We've been lucky.'' Lyon knows Caldwell, Brignac and Arrington are talented. They think so too. ``At the beginning it was tough. Because we all came from high schools where we were the star players,'' said Caldwell, a San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. High graduate in his third year at COC See chip on chip. . He redshirted in 2000 following a early- season dislocated shoulder A dislocated shoulder occurs when the humerus separates from the scapula at the glenohumeral joint. As the most maneuverable joint in the human body, the shoulder is the joint most vulnerable to dislocation. injury. Brignac had a distinguished career at Taft High of Woodland Hills and had collegiate stints at Cal State Northridge and Mt. SAC before landing at COC. He's grateful to be playing for a successful Cougars program (No. 8 in Southern California). But he prefers more opportunities. ``You do what you can,'' he said. Arrington is the lone freshman of the group. Unlike local products Brignac and Caldwell, he's from Rocky Mount Rocky Mount, city (1990 pop. 48,997), Edgecombe and Nash counties, E N.C., on the Tar River; settled by 1818, inc. 1867. The growing city is the commercial and distribution center of a rich agricultural area (tobacco, cotton, and corn) as well as a large tobacco , N.C. His former coach at Northern Nash Senior High, current Baylor assistant Dale Steele Dale Steele, brother of Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, is a college football coach with 30 years experience. Steele was recently hired at Campbell University to rebuild the Fighting Camel's Football program. , told him about the Canyons program. Arrington sent game tapes to COC. ``I was like 'Wow,' I couldn't believe it,'' Lyon said. Lyon didn't think twice after watching Arrington dominate. ``Everybody came out trying to get the ball themselves,'' Arrington said. ``But we're all getting our reps now.'' Lyon, whose 2000 team was plagued by lack of running-back depth, appreciates what he has now with three options. And also back is sophomore receiver Stephen Stokes. The former Valencia High all-around player filled in at running back for Caldwell last year and lines up in the backfield at times. They offer teams different looks and running styles. ``Major is the smallest of the three. But he's also the quickest of the three,'' Lyon said. ``He has great lateral movement Lateral movements are movements made on a horse that are used for training purposes, that involve the horse moving in a direction other than straight forward. They vary in difficulty, and should be used in a progressive manner, according to the training and physical limitations of . So if we can get Major up inside where he can use that, we think he's pretty good.'' Brignac had his best game in Saturday's 65-31 rout of Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. , rushing for 91 yards and two touchdowns. ``Marquis is more of a straight ahead guy, but he's fast,'' Lyon said. ``We ran an outside zone (against Santa Monica), a guy missed him. Gone. We ran an inside trap. A guy missed him. Gone. He's not a shifty shift·y adj. shift·i·er, shift·i·est 1. Having, displaying, or suggestive of deceitful character; evasive or untrustworthy. 2. guy like Major is.'' Arrington is more likely to run over a defender rather than juke him. ``He punishes defensive backs. He's fast, don't get me wrong. What he's got is great vision and great balance,'' Lyon said. ``Every one of them does certain things really well and it's fun to watch them do that.'' There is some rivalry among the Cougars' three running backs. But not like it was in high school for Caldwell and Brignac, who played at opposing City Section schools. ``I've still got to hear it from him because he beat me every year,'' a smiling Caldwell said of Brignac. But Brignac felt comfortable when arriving at this third school because of his friendship with Caldwell. ``It made it a lot easier for me. He helped me a lot with the offense at the beginning,'' he said. ``I constantly get coached by the coaches and by him.'' THREE'S COMPANY Three's Company is an American sitcom that ran from 1977 to 1984 on ABC. It is a remake of the British sitcom Man About the House. Description Jack, Janet and Chrissy lived in apartment 201, directly above the landlord unit. Here are the season stats for College of the Canyons' three running backs: Name Att. Yards Ave. TD Major Caldwell 46 230 5.0 2 J.J. Arrington 31 204 6.6 4 Marquis Brignac 28 190 6.8 3 CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: College of Canyons gets solid running from Major Caldwell, Marquis Brignac and J.J. Arrington. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer Box: Three's Company (see text) |
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