CANYONS FOOTBALL: DIRKSEN, FEIRFEIL MAKE SMOOTH TRANSITION.Byline: Dave Shelburne Shelburne, town (1990 pop. 5,871) in Chittenden co., NW Vermont, 7 mi (11 km) S of Burlington on the banks of Lake Champlain. A popular resort, Shelburne is also a center for local lumber and dairy industries. Daily News Staff Writer They were huge fish in a small pond last year, but how will former L.A. Baptist Baptist Member of a group of Protestant Christians who hold that only adult believers should be baptized and that it must be done by immersion. During the 17th century two groups of Baptists emerged in England: General Baptists, who held that Christ's atonement applied to High School football stars Tim Feirfeil and Peter Dirksen Dirk·sen , Everett McKinley 1896-1969. American politician who represented Illinois in the U.S. Congress (1933-1969) and was known for his flamboyant oratory. fare at the next level? So far, so good for quarterback Dirksen and receiver Feirfeil. In their inaugural season of community college football, one of the Knights' 1997 All-Southern Section batterymates has already secured a starting job and the other is contending to start. ``They're they're Contraction of they are. they're be both doing well,'' said Chuck Lyon Lyon English Lyons City (pop., 1999: city, 445,452; metro. area, 1,348,932), east-central France. Located at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, it was founded as the Roman military colony Lugdunum in 43 BC (see , head coach at College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. in the Cougars' first season back in football. ``Tim is starting and Pete could be starting. Tim is one of our best receivers and he may be the best. I know Pete's going to play because he's he's 1. Contraction of he is: He's going to school today. 2. Contraction of he has: He's already been to the museum. already done enough to see playing time - it's it's 1. Contraction of it is. 2. Contraction of it has. See Usage Note at its. it's it is or it has it's be ~have just a matter of how much playing time.'' Both incoming freshmen say the college game is a big adjustment after combining to dominate play last year, when L.A. Baptist competed in one of the Southern Section's smallest divisions and Dirksen passed for 2,940 yards - 1,730 to Feirfeil, who had 74 catches for 18 touchdowns. ``It's a lot different,'' said Feirfeil, ``everyone is a lot bigger and stronger, everyone is faster and the game is a lot quicker.'' ``For me,'' Dirksen said, ``my reads have got to be a lot quicker and I can't put as much air under the ball. There are a lot more good players.'' Lyon includes Dirksen and Feirfeil among the good players, regardless of their small-school background at L.A. Baptist, which had a four-year enrollment of 767. The Canyons coach, who said he has coached players coming from smaller schools during previous stints at Pasadena City College and Long Beach City College, thinks ability is more important than previous levels of competition. ``My experience with those players is there may be a period of adjustment for them, but not much,'' Lyon said. ``They've played against good high school players, just not as many. But both came in here with confidence in their ability, and that's what it takes.'' Feirfeil and Dirksen have been able to make the most of the adjustment period by virtue of the skill they bring to their positions. Dirksen, who threw 31 touchdown passes last season, was one of the most-accurate high school passers in the area, with just three interceptions in 240 attempts, a 62 percent completion rate and a 204.69 efficiency rating. Feirfeil was fast in high school - his 10.6 speed for 100 meters got him to the section finals in track - and that speed has held up well at the next level. ``He's arguably ar·gu·a·ble adj. 1. Open to argument: an arguable question, still unresolved. 2. That can be argued plausibly; defensible in argument: three arguable points of law. our best receiver because of his quickness,'' said Lyon. ``We've put plays into our offense to highlight him.'' L.A. Baptist coach Mark Bates Bates , Katherine Lee 1859-1929. American educator and writer best known for her poem "America the Beautiful," written in 1893 and revised in 1904 and 1911. expects Dirksen and Feirfiel to continue to do well in football. ``I don't think for that level of player, it's a whole lot different athletically because they're used to summer passing tournaments when we played against teams like Newbury Park and Hart. In summer, there's no class distinction and they've played against some of the best. ``The biggest transition for them and any kid coming from a small school will be the administrative level of things. Here, all the teachers know all the students. But I expect those two to do just fine.'' Feirfeil and Dirksen, who had hoped to play on the same team after high school, said they chose Canyons partly for the Cougars' emphasis on passing but also because of Lyon. ``He really seemed to care about us as persons and not just as football players,'' Feirfeil said. Canyons opens the season Saturday at College of the Desert. |
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