SOUTHERN CAL BOWL: CANYONS WINS SOCAL BOWL COC 52, CHAFFEY 27.Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer RANCHO CUCAMONGA Rancho Cucamonga (răn`chō k  'kəmäng`gə), city (1990 pop. 101,409), San Bernardino co., S Calif. - All College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. coach Chuck Lyon had
to shout was ``Let's go Let's Go may refer to: Television
The Cougars had just knocked off previously undefeated Chaffey College History The school was first founded in Ontario in 1883, when city founders and brothers George and William Chaffey donated land and established an endowment for a private college. 52-27 to win the Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Bowl in front of 2,000 on the Panthers' home field. But the significance of Saturday's victory went beyond the trophy Lyon was hoisting over his head. It was the latest pinnacle of success for a Canyons program reinstated five years ago after being killed in a 1982 budget-cutting move. And after three weeks of wrangling over whether it would be selected to the Southern California Bowl, the Cougars more than proved they belonged. Canyons (10-1) reeled off 35 unanswered points during a 10-minute stretch of the first and second quarters and went on to rout Chaffey. With the win, the Cougars advanced to play Reedley College History Reedley College was founded in May 1926, as Reedley Junior College on the campus of Reedley High School. It became a full community college on July 1, 1946. In 1954, the school district voted to move Reedley College to its own campus and in 1956 it moved to its present in next Saturday's California Community College Championship game in Bakersfield. ``We thought we were champions already just by getting to this game,'' said sophomore quarterback Kyle Bauer, a Valencia High product. ``We won our conference. This bowl game was just something extra. You're just out there having a good time.'' With a contingent of students banging on trash cans in the stands, Canyons made it look easy. Freshman wide receiver Trevor Brackett hauled in two touchdown passes - one on a trick play A trick play, also known as a gadget play, is a play in American football that uses deception and unorthodox strategies to fool the opposing team. Trick plays are highly risky, usually with a large potential for a loss of yards or turnover, but the payoff is often high with from tight end Brian Miller
Brian Miller is a British actor. He appeared in the Doctor Who serial Snakedance and provided Dalek voices in Resurrection of the Daleks and - and Martea' Johnson returned an interception 38 yards for another score. The Cougars' defense limited Chaffey running back John Bogarin to 109 yards, more than 50 below his average. Bauer, meanwhile, was named offensive MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. , throwing for 303 yards and two touchdowns, and even backup quarterback Neil Gunn got in on the act, adding an 8-yard run with 37 seconds left. ``We've reached a goal that no team at COC See chip on chip. ever has,'' a jubilant Miller said. ``This is so good. One more win and we're state champions.'' The Cougars entered the game averaging more than 53 points on offense behind Bauer, the state's highest-rated quarterback. But the Cougars struggled early as Bauer threw two interceptions on his fourth and fifth passes of the afternoon, and Chaffey went up 7-0 on Nick Fotia's 2-yard run. Despite only throwing three interceptions all season, Bauer was undeterred undeterred Adjective not put off or dissuaded Adj. 1. undeterred - not deterred; "pursued his own path...undeterred by lack of popular appreciation and understanding"- Osbert Sitwell undiscouraged by the early mistakes. He got on track with a 34-yard strike to Tyrell Smith and put Canyons in front 14-7 on a 17-yard pass to Brackett. The biggest pass of the day, however, would come from Miller on the next series. After running a double pass in last year's Western State Conference Bowl, Canyons returned to the play with Miller. Bauer swung a pass to him on the right side, and Miller launched a perfect strike to Brackett for a 46-yard touchdown. Miller said the chance to run the play was promised to him last year as a freshman. Barely a minute later, Canyons got another big play to go ahead 28-7. Johnson, a freshman defensive back who committed to Oregon State out of high school, perfectly read Fotia's slant pass and returned it for the touchdown. The Cougars never looked back after that. ``I was practicing all week on that one play,'' Johnson said. ``I just took it to the house. My defense, my teammates believed in me and told me I need to make big plays for us to win. Right then and there, we needed a momentum change.'' Chaffey tried to rally in the fourth quarter as Tyron Brackenridge Tyron Brackenridge (born June 30, 1984) is an American football defensive back. Pro career Brackenridge signed a free agent contract with the National Football League Kansas City Chiefs on May 7, 2006. intercepted a Bauer pass and ran it back 24 yards to make it 42-27. It was Bauer's fourth interception of the game, but Canyons handed the ball to J.J. Arrington (110 yards, two touchdowns) and the sophomore helped run out the clock. For Lyon, who played quarterback at Canyons in the 1970s and resurrected the program in 1998, Saturday's victory was especially sweet. The Cougars had not been invited to the Southern California Bowl the past two years, and Lyon decried the state playoff system after his team was passed over twice in the regional rankings last month. ``I still feel like we could have ended it today and I would have been fine with it,'' Lyon said Saturday, holding his ground on the issue. ``But this is the system, and you play to win and you play to do your best.'' In the end, Canyons finished on top. Lyon's players doused him with water with two minutes to play, and the fans sang ``We Are the Champions'' as the Cougars celebrated. Now Lyon's team will set its sights on Reedley, which beat crosstown rival Fresno 39-28 Saturday to win the Northern California Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The region contains the San Francisco Bay Area, the state capital, Sacramento; as well as the substantial natural beauty of the redwood forests, the northern championship. Lyon said not to count his team out. Not after the way the Cougars played Saturday. ``We've won a few games the last few years,'' said Lyon, whose team can boast the best record in Southern California (29-4) the past three seasons. ``We've built this to the point where we think we're going to win. And there's no stopping us if we play hard.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: College of the Canyons' Ramon Perry, right, has a head-turning experience trying to elude e·lude tr.v. e·lud·ed, e·lud·ing, e·ludes 1. To evade or escape from, as by daring, cleverness, or skill: The suspect continues to elude the police. 2. Chaffey's Dramayne McElroy. Will Lester/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion