BEST YET TO COME FOR CANYON'S COMEBACK KID.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - Supposedly, Sean Coen isn't where he should be. The junior wide receiver missed Canyon High's first two football games because of mononucleosis, and coach Harry Welch believes Coen hasn't fully recovered.

But it sure is hard to tell by the way Coen is performing.

Coen caught 10 passes - the best single-game total by a Canyon receiver since 1996 - in his debut three weeks ago against Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta, and he continues to be one of Canyon's key players. Coen has 31 catches for 380 yards and three touchdowns and could be on his way to an All-Southern Section season.

Still, Welch promises Coen's best is yet to come.

``I remember it took me eight months to recover when I had mono, and Sean's still not recovered, either,'' Welch said. ``Mono is different than the flu because it stays in your system for a long time. He's just not as quick and as fast and as strong as he will be.''

Yet Coen is among the most dependable players in the league.

``He is doing very well. We're real pleased to have him back,'' Welch said.

``I'm about 95 percent. I'm actually feeling pretty good,'' Coen said. ``For a while, I was still a little bothered when I ran, just a little bit lazy and tired. It was extra tough playing offense and defense, too, so we're starting to use me more on just offense.''

One advantage Coen has is a continued relationship with quarterback Nate Longshore. A year ago, Longshore was just learning the position as a sophomore starter, and Coen had a team-high 37 receptions and four touchdowns as Canyon finished 3-7.

Longshore is much better this season, and Canyon has more dependable receivers - such as Billy Omahen (18 receptions, three touchdowns) and Billy Maria (eight receptions, 160 yards) - to take the heat off Coen.

``It's much different this year because Nate and I have gotten a chance to know each other,'' Coen said. ``I know where the ball is going to be every time. Last year, it was like, `Well, maybe the ball will be here this time.' ''

Canyon won its first two games without Coen, but Longshore said he missed having his prized receiver in the lineup.

``It's great to have him back. Sean adds another dimension to our offense that wasn't there before,'' Longshore said. ``We're getting more familiar with each other as far as what pattern he's running and what his habits are. I like having him there because he's pretty clutch, and he knows what it takes to get open and make plays.''

Coen's plan is to continue his role as Canyon's go-to receiver. But he also wants to become a more complete player. He said blocking is a priority for him and, more importantly, he wants to develop into one of the team's spiritual leaders.

That would be a natural turn of events considering he's been among the most productive players on the team for the past year and a half. But Coen isn't the rah-rah type. He prefers a low-key approach.

``We have plenty of vocal leaders. I would try to lead more by example,'' he said.

Coen treats his teammates like his second family - ``Football is like my whole life,'' he said - and that's because family values have always been important to him. His father, Jack, is intimately involved in the football program, having helped raise $30,000 for the team by producing a Jay Leno summer benefit concert. Coen's mother, Dawn, and grandmother, Pat, wouldn't miss a Canyon football game in a million years. And his 11-year-old sister, Caitlin, is Coen's biggest fan of all.

``They're all very supportive,'' Coen said. ``My dad has really been great. I remember I had a difficult first half against Highland a couple of weeks ago, missed a touchdown catch. My dad came right to me at halftime and told me to get my head back on and have a great second half and that he loved me. That meant a lot to me.''

COEN FILE

Name: Sean Coen

Sport: Canyon football

Position: Wide receiver

Year: Junior

Ht./Wt.: 5-foot-9, 142 pounds

Stats: 31 receptions, 380 yards, 3 TDs

Coen quote: ``Football is like my whole life.''

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

(color) Canyon junior Sean Coen has bounced back from mononucleosis to help Cowboys (6-0) earn a No. 6 area ranking going into Friday's first-place Foothill League showdown with top-ranked Hart (5-0-1).

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Box:

COEN FILE (see text)