BAUER TAKES CHARGE AS HE LEADS COUGARS TO STUNNING VICTORY.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - What restraint and humility Kyle Bauer possesses for not shouting to the football world, ``I told you so!''

Like so many junior college football players, Bauer was unwanted out of high school. Too small, everyone said. Not enough yardage and touchdowns. Not ``see you later.'' More like, ``see you never.''

Here we are two years later, and Bauer, now at College of the Canyons because he had no where else to go. He has developed into one of the finest junior college quarterbacks the region has ever seen.

Recently named to the Gridwire Junior College All-American team, Bauer completed 18 of 30 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns Saturday to carry the Cougars (10-1) to a 52-27 victory at favored Chaffey (10-1) to win the Verizon Southern California Bowl before a stunned crowd of about 3,000.

Bauer has broken every significant season and career passing record at College of the Canyons this year, and he is in charge of a offense that is averaging more than 50 points per game heading into next Saturday's California Community College Championship in Bakersfield.

Since a 39-32 loss at Cerritos in Week 2, Bauer quarterbacked the Cougars to nine consecutive victories, and they have scored at least 32 points in every game during the streak.

``Kyle will get a scholarship somewhere now,'' said College of the Canyons coach Chuck Lyon. ``He is 20-1 over two seasons for us, and that speaks volumes.''

Bauer's problem two years ago was that he is not big enough. He has grown a couple of inches and is now 6 feet tall - still not enough, some will say - but he has passed for 3,412 yards and 38 touchdowns this season.

``No one paid attention to me in high school,'' Bauer said while shrugging his shoulders. ``I could not tell you why, but it is not a big deal. I'm just trying to get through the season. Colleges have called, some Division I-A, some I-AA, but I have been putting them off until the end of the season.''

Bauer did not waste any time asserting himself against Chaffey; he threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns as the Cougars built a 35-7 halftime lead.

He was awarded the MVP trophy after the game, as if there was any question who the best player on the field was.

``I'm stoked. Last year we had the chance to go to a bowl game at 9-1 but we did not get invited,'' Bauer said. ``This is our second chance.''

Lyons certainly has had taller quarterback's during his 22-year coaching career - who hasn't - but he does call Bauer ``the best I ever had.''

In high school, Bauer's primary job was to hand off the football to Manuel White, who finished his career as the region's all-time leading rusher before he accepted a UCLA scholarship.

``That's not a knock on Kyle. Valencia coach Brian Stiman had a great running back so he highlighted him,'' Lyons said. ``In the two years Kyle has been with us, the kid has just blossomed, he has just been fantastic. He's got a good, quick release and the strongest arm of any kid I have ever coached. Plus he makes good decisions and is just a natural leader. I don't care how tall he is - a lot of college teams can win with this kid.''

Just as the game is sometimes more about X's and O's, perhaps the football player's worth is more than height than stats. Kyle Bauer knows how to win.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) College of Canyons player Ramon Perry slips by Chaffey College's William Penn on Saturday.

(2) Chaffey College quarterback Nick Fotia gets ready to score. But College of the Canyons won the game 52-27.

Will Lester/Staff Photographer