LONGSHORE OVERCOMES THE ODDS CANYON QB GETS INSPIRATION FROM HIS LATE FATHER.

Byline: ERIK BOAL Special to the Daily News

Moments after engineering one of the most memorable drives in Canyon High of Canyon Country football history, capped by Christopher Chapman's winning 19-yard field goal, Ben Longshore walked over to the sideline and shared an emotional moment with his older brother Nate.

``He was probably more excited than I was,'' Ben Longshore said. ``He pulled me aside and told me `Dad would've been proud.'''

Todd Longshore wasn't in attendance Saturday night at Home Depot Center to watch his son rally Canyon from a one-point deficit in the final minute to defeat Moorpark 24-22 in the Southern Section Northern Division final. The father of two of Canyon's most talented quarterbacks died in April at the age of 49 as a result of a blood clot in his lung.

But Ben Longshore didn't have to look far to find a source of strength to will the Cowboys to victory after Moorpark took a 22-21 lead with 1:15 remaining.

``I know where my dad is,'' Ben said before the season. ``It feels like he's still around 24-7, watching me, and I don't want to let him down.''

With an opportunity to lead the Cowboys to back-to-back titles and secure a berth in the Div. I state bowl game, Longshore treated his father, his mother, DeAnn, his brother and the entire Canyon community to one of the greatest clutch performances incoach Harry Welch's career.

The result was a return trip to Home Depot Center, with Canyon securing a matchup against De La Salle of Concord (13-0), the nation's top-ranked team according to USA Today, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

``He honored his father with the way he played,'' said Welch, who won his fifth title in six finals appearances. ``I know his father is most proud.''

In the first half Saturday, Longshore had little to be pleased with, misfiring on his first five attempts and completing only 5 of 16 passes for 109 yards.

Fortunately for Canyon, Longshore's 30-yard touchdown pass to J.J. DiLuigi gave the Cowboys a 14-7 halftime lead.

``In the first quarter, he reverted back (to earlier in the season) and he and I talked about it,'' Welch said. ``He was pressing. His effort factor was an A-plus, but he needed to be in that calm state where things slow down.''

Said Longshore: ``The first half was just crazy. I forgot how bad it was when teams blitz all the time. I just got used to it and things became easier.''

After a summer in which he helped Canyon hand Div. III state bowl game participant Oaks Christian of Westlake Village its lone loss in 7-on-7 competition, Longshore entered the fall with increased expectations.

Longshore tried his best to live up to the advanced billing, but wound up ``trying too hard,'' according to Welch, and threw 10 interceptions in 126 attempts in Canyon's first five games, including back-to-back losses to NotreDame of Sherman Oaks and St. Bonaventure of Ventura.

Ben wasn't alone in dealing with the emotional load of losing his father and the pressure of being a starting quarterback for a high-profile program.

Nate Longshore completed 11 of 20 passes for 85 yards and an interception in Cal's 35-18 season-opening loss at Tennessee.

But during the toughest times, the brothers continued to draw strength from one another, and with each day of practice and every passing game, dealing with the losses on and off the field became less difficult.

Canyon has won 10 consecutive games since its loss to St. Bonaventure and Cal responded with nine wins in its final 11 games entering the 29th annual Holiday Bowl against Texas A&M on Dec. 28 in San Diego.

Ben also learned to rely more on senior running back J.J. DiLuigi, who enters Saturday's game with 81 career touchdowns, in an effort to establish the run in order to set up the pass. The result has been only two interceptions in the past 149 attempts for Longshore, who has passed for 2,669 yards and 22 touchdowns.

``We got a lot more chemistry (since those two losses),'' said DiLuigi, who has rushed for 2,022 yards. ``We started looking after each other.''

Said Longshore: ``It was like everything started to make sense to me after those games.''

It was only fitting that Longshore's career-defining drive Saturday began with a simple screen pass to DiLuigi, who turned it into a 36-yard reception, moving the ball into Moorpark territory. Following a 37-yard pass to Anthony Arriaga, Canyon was already inside Moorpark's 10-yard line with 58 seconds remaining.

``I looked downfield and it was like the Red Sea parted,'' Longshore said. ``I wonder why we couldn't have done that earlier so we didn't have to be so stressed out in the end.''

Longshore appeared to have scored the go-ahead touchdown on a second-and-goal play, but Canyon was called for a false-start penalty. After two unsuccessful runs, Longshore believed Welch might gamble and go for it on fourth down from the 1-yard line.

``We were going on fourth down all season, so the thought honestly didn't even cross my mind that we could kick,'' Longshore said. ``We all walked over to the sideline and coach called for Chapman. I thought it was a good idea.''

Longshore knows a similar situation could arise Saturday against De La Salle, and he'll again look to his brother for guidance and his father for inspiration.

``Before every game I say a prayer and dedicate the game to my dad,'' he said. ``It's just kind of a dream come true, and to win this week would be icing on the cake. We want to prove to people we can overcome anything.''

His performance against Moorpark was just another example that Longshore already has.

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Canyon High quarterback Ben Longshore has passed for 2,669 yards and 22 touchdowns this season.

Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News

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