BIG-TIME DREAMS; BRAGA WORKS TO CATCH DIVISION I EYES.

Byline: Scott Magoloff Staff Writer

College of the Canyons safety Brandon Braga was recruited by his share of Division I universities out of Notre Dame High two years ago.

For whatever reason, schools such as New Mexico State, Cal State Northridge and Hawaii wanted him, but they would not offer him a scholarship. They wanted him to walk on.

In a theme that has dominated his football career, Braga took it as a challenge. When he decided to go to L.A. Valley College instead of walking on at a Division I school, he set out to get eventually what he felt he deserved in a scholarship.

``I want to play ball at a big-time school - that's my goal,'' said Braga, who leads COC with three interceptions and is the team's second-leading tackler. ``I'm friends with (former Notre Dame teammate Justin) Fargas and I saw him go to Michigan. I'd like to play on TV one day.''

Braga (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) was at a crossroads at the end of last season, which he had just completed with Valley. There were questions he needed to answer, such as if he wanted to continue playing at Valley and whether he wanted to continue playing at all.

Braga decided he would miss football too much if he just quit. But Valley had finished a disappointing 4-6 last year. Then Canyons cornerback Adam Boyd, also Braga's teammate at Notre Dame, told him about COC. The Cougars had just capped their first season since a 17-year hiatus with a McDonald's Bowl appearance.

``My indecision was right at the end of the season,'' Braga said. ``I was just contemplating whether or not I wanted to play football. In a couple of weeks, I decided to come here.''

And COC coach Chuck Lyon couldn't have been happier the day Braga arrived in his office with the news.

``He came to us really focused and he really works hard,'' Lyon said. ``He made the decision to get in here and play and he's a guy people look to because of his work ethic. In the weight room or on the field, he's taken on that leadership role of the secondary.''

Lyon said Braga has the type of work ethic necessary to reach the Division I level and has attracted interest from Nevada Las Vegas, San Diego State and Portland State, among others.

A prep career at tradition-rich Notre Dame is largely responsible for Braga's sound mental approach to football. And when COC's secondary came under fire in the early part of this season, it was Braga looking back to his successful high school days that helped turn the Cougars defense around. Just as he has done since then, he viewed his obstacle as a challenge.

``During the bye week (three weeks ago), we took it as a challenge and refocused our coverage,'' Braga said. And it showed the following week, when COC intercepted West L.A. quarterbacks six times (Braga had two) en route to a 38-13 victory.

``He's one of the reasons we came together on defense,'' Lyon said.

And it wasn't by chance. Braga, who admittedly is not the fastest defensive back or the strongest, makes plays out of the desire to always be near the ball.

And the way he has helped turn around what was a porous COC secondary lends to the belief Braga might wind up at a college with the kind of winning tradition he had grown accustomed to in high school and with COC.

He could even wind up on television.

BRAGA FILE

Name: Brandon Braga

Position: Safety for COC

Height: 6-2

Weight: 195

Stats: Leads team with 3 INTs. . . . Is second in tackles, with 33 through six games

CAPTION(S):

Photo, box

PHOTO Defensive back Brandon Braga is one of the big reasons for College of the Canyons' success this season.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box: Braga File (see text)