BAUER'S BIG YEAR CONTINUES COC 61, VENTURA 19.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - There were about 7,700 fewer people on hand for College of the Canyons' 61-19 rout of Ventura College on Saturday than for Hart of Newhall's victory over Canyon High on Friday night, but the 300 who turned out were treated to a passing clinic by Canyons quarterback Kyle Bauer.

Bauer, who seems to break a school passing record every time he takes the field, shattered the single-season school touchdown record (19) on an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jason Hogan that gave Canyons (5-1, 4-0) a 34-19 lead with seven seconds left in the first half. It was his fourth touchdown pass of the first half on 14-of-20 passing for 243 yards.

For the game, Bauer completed 21 of 31 passes for 435 yards and six touchdowns, tying another school record for touchdowns in a game (set by David Parker) and pushing his record-breaking season total to 22. It is the fourth week in a row Bauer has upped his career high in single-game yardage.

``Kyle Bauer is just too good,'' said freshman wide receiver Trevor Brackett, who was on the receiving end of two of Bauer's touchdown passes. ``He's just playing catch out there. I love playing with him. He's going to play anywhere he wants to next year.''

But before he starts making plans to play at a four-year college, Bauer's Cougars are leading the Western State Conference at 4-0 and looking forward to a showdown with fellow unbeaten Compton (3-0) at home at the end of November.

COC's Tyrell Smith caught four passes for three touchdowns, which ties Jason d'Autremont's school record for receiving touchdowns in a game. Smith put an exclamation point on the night with a 96-yard touchdown catch from Bauer in the third quarter, the longest touchdown reception in Canyons history. Smith caught the ball at the Canyons' 10-yard line, shook one tackle and outran three Ventura defenders to the end zone.

``I've got a policy, that when I'm in the open field, I'm not getting caught,'' Smith said. ``I thought the defensive back was going to come up, but then he slipped off, (and) all I saw was end zone.''

Quarterback Jason Beck completed 12 of 16 for 164 yards and three touchdowns for Ventura (2-4, 1-3) in the first half but only completed four passes in the second half.

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Canyons' Tyrell Smith (7) catches the second of his three touchdown passes Saturday against Ventura.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News