CANYON PLAYERS MUSCLE THROUGH SUMMER'S BLISTERING HEAT.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON

CANYON COUNTRY - Canyon High is the only Santa Clarita football program practicing over the next three weeks, as Hart, Saugus, Valencia and College of the Canyons are all in the midst of a mandatory break.

Canyon opted to take its break in early June -- just like last year, when the Cowboys eventually won the Southern Section Div. II championship.

Coach Harry Welch, who has won four career titles, strongly believes Canyon has timed things correctly -- even though an unbearable heat wave continues across the Southland and especially in the valleys.

``Think about it: All these kids from other schools will spend their break at the beaches, in the mountains or in air-conditioned movie theatres while we're getting acclimated to the heat,'' Welch said.

``It's almost cruel -- and immoral -- to bring them back after that and immediately put them in helmets and shoulder pads, especially because most programs come back and have to practice right after school, which is the hottest time of the day. It's not the best conditions for their health.''

It's been quite a summer for Canyon. In fact, the three-week break was the only thing that has stopped the Cowboys, who have won or advanced to the finals of nearly every summer passing tournament.

Considering most of its offensive line returns, Canyon also should be strong once the pads go on. It would not be surprising to see the Cowboys listed among the top five when Cal-Hi Sports' preseason rankings are released next month.

Speaking of Canyon, is there a more versatile and talented lineman than senior Marc Valdez?

He'll be the team's only three-year starter once the season starts, beginning his career as a defensive lineman who totaled four sacks as a sophomore. A late start last year because of an injury -- and a position switch to the offensive line -- didn't stop Valdez, who helped plow the way to a section title.

Remember Anthony DeFilippo, a former Valencia High linebacker who earned Daily News Co-Player of the Year honors two seasons ago?

Back then, he was a 165-pounder who used his quickness to set a Foothill League single-season sack record of 24 (with 151 tackles) to help Valencia to the Div. II final.

Considered too small to make an impact at the next level, DeFilippo gray-shirted at Canyons last season, and by now he has added 25 pounds, weighing in at 190.

How has DeFilippo done it? Well, he has worked out hard in the weight room. But he also has an advantage because he works part-time at an Italian restaurant at Valencia Town Center.

``I know he eats a lot there -- lots of pasta,'' said his mother Linda.

Meanwhile, the elder DeFilippo, who coaches local roller skaters, has guided six Santa Clarita skaters to a spot in the National Roller Figure Skating Championships in Lincoln, Neb., next month.

At the California State Games on July 16 in Orange, Megan Griffin, Gia Patafio, Meshy Fischelsohn and James Alger all won two gold medals, and Kayla Griffin, Jesse Lane and Mariah Lopez also struck gold.

Robert dos Remedios, a veteran strength and conditioning coach at Canyons, has been honored as the National Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year.

In the 26-year history of the award, dos Remedios is the first community college coach to receive the honor. The rest have been from NCAA four-year colleges such as Tennessee, Nebraska, Clemson, Texas A&M, Arizona State and the Air Force Academy.

The latest prodigy of local private baseball coach Jim Wagner is Kody Kurowski, a former Saugus High multisport standout who is hoping to come back from a broken leg and pitch for Canyons this spring.

Kurowski, who is 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, is a left-hander whose fastball was timed at 85 mph last week by Wagner.