COC BEAT: NO GETTING PAST IT: COC COACH HAS FUN.

Byline: Scott Magoloff Staff Writer

So coaches are also fans.

College of the Canyons football coach Chuck Lyon, although disappointed that his Cowboys (2-2, 0-2) were on the losing end, thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Saturday's 52-50 loss to Allan Hancock.

``I thought that was just fun,'' Lyon said. ``Even coming home on the bus, that was something even though we lost. That was a fun game to be around.''

The last time Lyon was involved in such an explosive game - and the only other time - was in 1995. As the team's head coach, he led Pasadena City College to a 52-48 victory against Palomar.

``I've never seen anything like that,'' he said of the Hancock game. ``That was just a track meet, just like (the Palomar game) was. I don't need that very often.''

Lyon told his players during the bus ride home from Santa Maria that he couldn't complain about their effort and that they were seven points from being undefeated. (Canyons lost 33-28 to Glendale before falling 52-50 to Hancock).

One of COC's weaknesses in the Hancock game was a poor pass-rush. Lyon said he and defensive coordinator Leon Criner have been working on adjustments to the defensive line to rectify the problem.

New sheriff in town: Chris Kobe's valiant effort against Hancock proved that Travis Winn is not the only quarterback capable of running this offense.

Lyon opened a competition for the starting job in week of practice leading up to the Hancock game and gave freshman Robert Muller the first shot to win it by starting him. He deserved the opportunity, being that Kobe left the team for a few weeks at the start of fall practice.

Muller, who graduated from run-oriented Crespi, is not yet fluent in COC's spread offense.

Kobe completed 19 of 31 passes for 243 yards in just over three quarters of action after he replaced Muller. At one point Kobe, who also rushed for 69 yards on eight carries, completed seven consecutive passes (two before halftime, five after).

Needless to say - and taking nothing from Muller, who is still learning - Kobe has won the job.

``(Muller's) still pretty young and he's never been in that situation - you could see that,'' Lyon said. ``But I felt I owed it to him to give him the opportunity and we may need him down the road.''

All Muller must do is look at Kobe, who left the team because of a lack of passion. All it took was one play for Winn to injure his shoulder turning the backup into the starter.

Winn update: Winn should learn his fate in the coming days. He was scheduled to have an MRI yesterday on his right shoulder, which was injured in the Antelope Valley game on Sept. 18.