LENO, LAUGHS AID CANYON FOOTBALL.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

NEWHALL - They say sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. The Canyon High football team is hoping for both.

The Cowboys scored a major coup when the host of ``The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' agreed to perform a benefit for the team - selling out Hart High's auditorium and raising about $30,000 Friday night. The boys are hoping to parlay their good fortune into triumph on the football field.

Coach Harry Welch, who made a much-publicized return last year after a brief retirement, appears to be doing a fine job rebuilding the program. A day after the rousing success of Leno's performance, Canyon won five consecutive passing-competition games to advance to the final of the annual Hart High passing tournament, losing by one touchdown to the host Indians.

As for Leno, whose TV writer Jack Coen is Canyon receiver Sean Coen's father, he was happy to help out Friday.

``I think the last time I was at a high school football game was in 1964, so it's been awhile. But it's fun do things like this,'' Leno said backstage. ``It's in the kids' interest because schools seem to keep cutting their budgets down to the bone. So anything I can do to help out, to me that's a good idea.

``After all, it isn't hard work, just going out there and telling jokes. And it's all for a good cause. I'm not getting paid. All the money goes to the kids.''

A few of the Canyon players worked as ushers and ticket-takers. They were lucky to get into their own benefit because tickets, priced at $30 and $100, were at a premium. The event sold out in advance, and fans lined up 90 minutes before the show to get as close a seat as possible.

``I think it's awesome just for someone like Jay Leno to give his time and effort to help a high school football team,'' lineman Justin Vaughn said. ``He didn't need to do this, but coach Welch wants the best for us, and he wants things to be as perfect as possible. Jay Leno here in Santa Clarita? That's unbelievable.''

Running back Jesse Brandt was equally overwhelmed.

``I think it's a real honor. This is a very big blessing and we're very lucky,'' he said. ``Jay Leno is awesome.''

Lineman Jeff Briscoe added that quite a few of his friends had asked him for tickets.

``I guess it sold out he quick,'' Briscoe said with a shrug.

Welch, who has been coaching and teaching at Canyon for more than 20 years, said he's never seen a celebrity of Leno's magnitude perform a benefit for a local football program.

Jack Coen, who also has experience as a touring comedian, opened the show. Fellow comic John Caponera also performed, along with comedy-magician Scott Cervine and the Rumble Bees, a rock band.

``There's never been anything like this, at least not in Santa Clarita, I don't think,'' Welch said. ``It's really wonderful, and I think the people really got their money's worth.''

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``Tonight Show'' host Jay Leno entertains a crowd at Hart High in a benefit performance Friday that raised about $30,000 for the school's football program.