CLOSE CALLS FRUSTRATE CANYONS; COUGARS, TWICE BEATEN BUT NEARLY UNDEFEATED, TRY TO AVOID TURNOVERS AGAINST PIERCE.

Byline: Scott Magoloff Staff Writer

Indeed, as College of the Canyons football coach Chuck Lyon told his players, the Cougars are only seven points away from being undefeated.

Instead, after a stunning 52-50 loss at Allan Hancock last week and a 33-28 loss to Glendale in the previous game, COC (2-2, 0-2) finds itself winless in Western State Conference North Division play.

The way those games were lost leaves a sour taste in the collective mouth of the program. A combined nine turnovers were too many to overcome. Still, considering how close the Cougars were makes one wonder what their record would be if they cut down on their turnovers.

It might not be easy today against Pierce (1-3, 0-2), which surely wants to take out its frustrations after losing 26-23 last week on a field goal with 12 seconds left to previously winless Santa Barbara.

``We're going to have to play conservative in the beginning,'' Lyon said. ``We have to cut down on our turnovers. If we do that, I think we can move the ball.''

An intriguing battle of strategies might ensue between Lyon and Pierce's coaching staff, which includes quarterbacks coach Joe Molden. Molden was Lyon's starting quarterback at Pasadena City College in the early 1990s.

``I really like that staff - they're doing a great job,'' Lyon said of Pierce, which is under the leadership of first-year coach Dave Banuelos. ``Team character and morale has improved. You can see it on (game tapes). They were just defeated last year.

``I'm glad to see that for our conference, that it gets brought up a level. I hope they don't bring it up this week.''

The Brahmas will have starting quarterback Jamaal Washington (29 of 52 passes for 494 yards) and Banuelos hopes it will be for the entire game.

Washington had a concussion and missed the 55-22 loss to Moorpark two weeks ago. Washington left the Santa Barbara game in the fourth quarter with the flu.

Backup quarterback Scott Doherty (35 of 64 for 387 yards) has filled in nicely. And it's nice for Banuelos to know he's there if needed.

``They really mix it up,'' Banuelos said of COC. ``I expect a physical game.''

Canyons may be without one of its most physical players, linebacker Todd Hourigan, who was scheduled to see a doctor Friday.

The Cougars' leading tackler suffered a concussion in practice about two weeks ago and was dizzy during the Hancock game.

On a positive note, running back Steve Smith (team-high 268 yards on 41 carries) will play despite spraining his knee and ankle when a Hancock player rolled over his leg on a tackle last week.

Major Caldwell filled in when Smith went out and ran for a season-high 106 yards on 14 carries.

PIERCE at CANYONS

Brahmas update: Starting quarterback Jamaal Washington (494 yards) missed the game two weeks ago with a concussion and left in the fourth quarter last week with the flu. Backup Scott Doherty (387 yards) led Pierce to a fourth-quarter tie with a 35-yard TD pass to Damon Coleman last week before a Santa Barbara field goal with 12 seconds left to keep Pierce winless in the Western State Conference Northern Division.

Cougars update: Quarterback Chris Kobe, named co-offensive player of the week after his performance in COC's 52-50 loss to Hancock last week, starts again. Canyons will look protect the ball better on offense and attack more on defense, although it might be without leading tackler Todd Hourigan (concussion). Freshman Cedric Anderson will start in his place if Hourigan can't play. Receiver Ahjeron Palmer (broken thumb), who was expected to return in two weeks, will play with a half-cast.

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Box: Pierce at Canyons (see text)