COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SOPHOMORE SHINES ON CANYONS TEAM.

Byline: SEAN CEGLINSKY Staff Writer

VALENCIA -- Terence Scott entered the year as one of the more sought after recruits on the West Coast, and the College of the Canyons sophomore has done little to tarnish his reputation with his consistent play this season for the Cougars.

The 6-foot, 175-pound receiver is second in the state with 49 receptions in eight games thus far and Scott figures to have another big effort in tonight's Western State Conference game against Santa Barbara, whose defense is third worst in the state.

``We have to find ways to get Terence the ball, there's no doubt about it,'' Canyons coach Chuck Lyon said.

Scott has been able to excel despite the Cougars' (3-5, 2-3) struggles. The team entered the season having won six consecutive Northern Division titles but opened up with losses in four of its first five games and hasn't recovered since.

``We're used to winning around here,'' Scott said. ``Losing makes us sick. It's not in our blood. We're keeping our heads up, though. We're staying positive.''

Scott didn't have his best game of the year last week in a 43-19 loss to Hancock, finishing with a pair of receptions. He, did, however, show a glimpse of his big-play capability, hauling in a 92-yard touchdown catch, his ninth of the season.

He's 271 yards short of reaching the 1,000-yard plateau.

It's not as if Scott is an unknown commodity. He was a standout at Central High of Knoxville, Tenn., and verbally committed to Marshall before deciding to attend Canyons, where he totaled 1,058 yards and nine touchdowns as a freshman.

Scott runs a 4.3 40-yard dash and has been contacted by USC, Kentucky and South Carolina, though no official offers have been made. He plans on making official visits after the season.

``I'm taking things as they come,'' Scott said. ``I'm in no hurry to make a decision. We still have some unfinished business this season.''