COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS: BAUER LOOKING FOR MORE QB TO BE ONE OF COC'S HOLDOVERS.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - When the College of the Canyons football team opened the season with a 27-3 loss in which the starting quarterback fractured his wrist, Kyle Bauer exuded confidence. Nearly three months later, the Cougars freshman proved his optimism was justified.

After inheriting the starting quarterback job and leading COC to its first bowl victory in seven tries - a 35-32 victory over Saddleback in Saturday's Western State Conference Bowl - Bauer already was expressing high expectations for next season.

``Finishing the season with a win, we'll carry that over to next season,'' Bauer said. ``Hopefully, we can pick up where we left off. We're going to try to do this again next year. This is awesome.''

The way he lived up to his word this year, and considering the talent that is eligible to return with him next season, it is difficult to disagree with Bauer about the potential for the Cougars to win a third consecutive conference title and extend a program-record 10-game winning streak.

In addition to Bauer, an All-WSC selection who threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns Saturday, COC could return players such as all-conference picks J.J. Arrington, Danny Gonzales and Brad Lloyd.

As he has done much of the season, Arrington led COC's running game against Saddleback. The running back gained 101 yards on 23 carries, giving him 650 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns this season. With Major Caldwell and Marquis Brignac, the other two-thirds of the Cougars' three-pronged running attack, having used up their eligibility, Arrington will likely be counted on more next year.

Gonzalez should join Jeff Gallo and Mike Graves in anchoring an offensive line that suffers a big loss with the departure of Greg Vandermade and All-America center Paul Dolinsky. The strong line allowed COC (10-1) to have the conference's second-best offense, producing 377 net yards a game, including 436 against Saddleback.

Lloyd, a linebacker who set up COC's final score Saturday by making a sack and forcing a fumble that was returned 73 yards for a touchdown, is one of four defensive starters eligible to return.

But the Cougars have significant holes to fill.

Special teams will be hit hard by the departure of punter Jason Daily and fellow All-American Cedric Thompson, a return specialist who ranked second in the conference in all-purpose rushing. Placekicker Tommy Garagliano also will be missed. Although he missed both of his field-goal attempts Saturday, including a 22-yarder, Garagliano was known for lengthy kicks, including a school-record 50-yarder this season.

The receivers also need to be restocked. All six players who made receptions against Saddleback were sophomores.

Who will be throwing to the receivers is another source of uncertainty but not because of a lack of candidates.

Bauer, described by coach Chuck Lyon as an ``undersized, skinny, weak'' player who ``wasn't supposed to do this this soon,'' likely will be rewarded for his standout season by having to challenge Jason Winn for next season's staring job. Winn was the opening-day starter but spent the rest of the season studying the system after he broke his wrist.

There also is Jimbo Thomson, the third-string quarterback who filled in when Bauer missed a few weeks with a sprained ankle. Neil Gunn redshirted this year and could also be part of the mix next season.

``We'll have another good team,'' Bauer said.