CANYONS FACES BIGGEST TEST; BAKERSFIELD IS OBSTACLE TO WSC TITLE.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

Every game is an adventure. Every week brings new challenges that seem insurmountable but end up being surpassed, usually in the fourth quarter.

This week's challenges for College of the Canyons' football team: win at Bakersfield, where no team has succeeded so far.

And do it against the team with the No. 1 defense in the Western State Conference. And do it with the conference championship on the line. And maybe do it in the rain.

``Same M.O.: hang in till the end and steal it,'' Canyons coach Chuck Lyon said. ``We do it everywhere.''

This figures to be the greatest obstacle yet for the Cougars (7-1, 4-0). Bigger than Allan Hancock because this game is on the road, and because Canyons now is the marked team. It's the Cougars who are ranked fifth in Southern California, sixth in the state and 22nd in the nation.

It's the Cougars with the conference's No. 1 offense trying to win against the No. 1 defense in a hostile environment. And it will be more difficult than beating Hancock. But they'll try tonight at 7. If the Cougars win, they win the conference championship. If they lose, they could earn a share if they beat Ventura next week and Hancock beats Bakersfield.

``The difference between Hancock and Bakersfield is pass defense,'' Lyon said. ``(Bakersfield is) way better.''

The Renegades (5-2, 3-0) are first in team defense, second in run defense and fifth in pass defense. And yet they are beatable, losing at Moorpark this year. Lyon looked carefully at that game tape but decided his team can't run the same Moorpark-type offense.

He'll pass, like always, and doesn't believe in the saying about defense wins championships.

``If you outscore people, you win,'' Lyon said.

To figure out how, the coaching staff watched tape of Bakersfield's games against Valley and Santa Barbara - teams that run spread offenses similar to Canyons.

``When I look at defenses, I look at three things,'' Lyon said. ``Structure - are they vulnerable anywhere. Personnel - are there any weak links. And what the defense is trying to do.''

The answers to these questions tell Lyon he needs to change quarterback Kevin Carrasco's drop from three steps to five. Lyon says it spreads out Bakersfield's defense more.

So then the question arises: Can the offensive line hold up? It did against Santa Barbara - no sacks. And it neutralized Hancock's pass rush.

Carrasco is coming off a 526-yard performance and leads the conference with 2,130 passing yards. Plus, he'll have Tim Feirfeil back among his receivers. Feirfeil's knee and ankle that he hurt four weeks ago has healed enough.

Bakersfield doesn't rush as much, instead laying back and letting linebackers Ross Marchbanks and Nick Onainda and defensive back Alex Wallace make tackles or intercept passes. The Renegades have returned interceptions for scores four times in the last three games and have nine total picks.

If the Canyons offense and Bakersfield defense cancel each other, the real challenge falls to the Canyons defense. Bakersfield likes to run, and Canyons' run defense is strong, especially up the middle.

But if it rains, as Bakersfield officials claim it could, the advantage will swing to Bakersfield's favor.

If that were to happen, Lyon said he'll have to re-evaluate the game plan.

But if it doesn't rain, Lyon sees two things most certainly happening: Bakersfield's pass defense and Canyons' scoring offense will take beatings.

``I think this is going to be a low-scoring game, in the 20s,'' Lyon said.

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Photo

PHOTO Jason Parks, right, and his Canyons teammates will take on Bakersfield's top-ranked defense.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News