THE BIG "D" CANYON DEFENSE SOLDIERS ON COWBOYS BATTLED MOORPARK AND WON, NOW FACE UNDEFEATED DE LA SALLE.Byline: ERIK BOAL Special to the Daily News Ben Armbruster has learned how to survive trench warfare trench warfare. Although trenches were used in ancient and medieval warfare, in the American Civil War, and in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–5), they did not become important until World War I. from a coach who is well-versed in the great battles in American history. Armbruster, a senior defensive end at Canyon of Canyon Country, might be considered one of the unknown soldiers on a defensive unit that features standout linebackers Nick Jurado, Blake McMartin and Michael Pyne, and hard-hitting safety Kenny Shanahan. But the presence of Armbruster and fellow defensive linemen Mike Harker, Dillon Schelske and Mike Spagnola helped the Cowboys (11-2) combat Moorpark's imposing offensive line in Saturday's 24-22 victory in the Southern Section Northern Division championship game. ``It reminded me of the early warfare of the American Civil War American Civil War or Civil War or War Between the States (1861–65) Conflict between the U.S. federal government and 11 Southern states that fought to secede from the Union. ,'' said Canyon coach Harry Welch Welch , William Henry 1850-1934. American pathologist and bacteriologist who discovered the bacteria that causes gas gangrene. , whose team was one of only four in 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, this season to win back-to-back division titles. ``We were coming at them with wave after wave. If one wave (went) down, then the next wave (was) there to pick them up. That's what they mean when they talk about hold the line. These guys stepped up and took a wounded brother's place when they needed to.'' There hasn't been much time for Canyon to celebrate last Saturday's victory, not with DeLa Salle of Concord Concord, cities, United States Concord (kŏng`kərd, kŏn`kôrd'). 1 city (1990 pop. 111,348), Contra Costa co., W central Calif.; settled c.1852, inc. 1906. (13-0), the top-ranked team in the country, awaiting the Cowboys in the inaugural Div. I state championship bowl game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Home Depot The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. Headquartered in Vinings, just outside Atlanta in unincorporated Cobb County, Georgia, Home Depot employs more than 355,000 people and operates 2,164 big-box Center in Carson. For Canyon's defense, which is led by Schelske's eight sacks and Spagnola's six, they know facing the 20-time North Coast Section champions will be the greatest challenge of their high school careers. ``We've played a lot of great teams and we've held our own,'' said Shanahan, who had eight tackles and an interception against Moorpark. ``(Saturday) was an amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. game. I'm so proud of the way our defense stepped up to the challenge. Now we have to show that we belong (playing De La Salle De La Salle is the name of several educational institutions affiliated with the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, also known as the Lasallian Brothers, a Roman Catholic religious teaching order founded by French priest Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle: But after holding Moorpark to seven points and fewer than 200 yards through threequarters of the Northern Division final, Armbruster, a returning All-Foothill League selection, is confident his team can compensate for what they might be missing in the size or speed department with a precise, tactical approach. ``We try not to worry so much about the team we're playing and just concentrate on what we need to do,'' Armbruster said. ``Our defense is getting better all the time. It's not our physical prowess PROWESS Infectious disease A clinical trial–Recombinant Human Activated Protein C [Zovant™] Worldwide Evaluation in Severe Sepsis that helps us win, it's strategy. ``We know we can't take them on head up, so we find other ways to be successful. And it helps to know that you've got 10 teammates behind you who can make a play. We've all become part of one big family.'' Although Canyon is averaging 45.5 points per game, Welch knows the play of his defense will have a large effect on the outcome of Saturday's game. ``There were many times I thought to myself, `can they keep doing this?', throwing their skinny (Skinny Station Protocol) Cisco's proprietary implementation of the H.323 IP telephony model. Skinny phones can also be configured for the SIP protocol. See IP telephony. little bodies out there play after play,'' Welch said. ``But they continued to keep coming back ready to do it again when we needed it the most.'' Said Armbruster: ``That's how coach Welch teaches it.'' And just like against Moorpark, Welch hopes his soldiers can band together one more time against De La Salle to carry the day. erik.boal@dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Canyon defensive linemen, from left, Mike Spagnola, Dillon Schelske, Ben Armbruster and Mike Harker will be challenged by De La Salle. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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