Canyons Gets the Last Word, Beats Antelope Valley, 19-14

SANTA CLARITA — Whatever ill will existed between coaches Chuck Lyon of Canyons and Brent Carder of Antelope Valley seemed to end amicably with a postgame handshake after Canyons’ 19-14 nonconference victory Saturday night at College of the Canyons.

Annoyed by allegations from Antelope Valley coaches that he had been illegally recruiting, Lyon got revenge the best way a coach can--on the field.

Sean Congswell scored Canyons’ first two touchdowns on one-yard runs, but it was freshman Steve Smith sparked the Cougars’ ground game.

Smith rushed six times for 66 yards in the Cougars’ first scoring drive, a nine-play, 97-yard march midway through the second quarter.

Smith finished with 144 yards in 23 carries.

Travis Winn of Canyons completed 14 of 26 passes for 152 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Jason Anderson, who rushed for more than 200 yards in Antelope Valley’s opener last week, was held to a single carry for minus-two yards in the first half. He finished with 102 yards in nine carries.

Linebacker Todd Hourigan intercepted a pass by Monte Gutkowski and Canyons capitalized one play later.

Mark Hamilton outreached three defenders at the five-yard line and scored his third touchdown of the season on a 40-yard pass from Winn with 5:16 remaining in the third quarter to give the Cougars (2-0) a seemingly insurmountable 19-0 lead.

Hamilton had five receptions for 91 yards.

Antelope Valley (1-1) made it interesting when Anderson caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Justin Holtfreter with 3:46 left, completing an eight-play, 66-yard drive that cut Canyons’ lead to 19-14.

Anderson scored the Marauders’ first touchdown on an eight-yard run late in the third quarter.

Holtfreter completed 17 of 32 passes for 220 yards and one interception. Gutkowski played only three series, completing one of six passes for four yards and two interceptions.

Brandon Braga and Haudarie Andrews also intercepted passes for Canyons, which sacked Antelope Valley quarterbacks six times and forced two fumbles.

The Cougars avenged last season’s 21-14 defeat at Antelope Valley and evened the series, 4-4.

Heloy Cervantes had two extra points and a 29-yard field goal blocked by Antelope Valley.

Bobby Antee had 10 tackles and an interceptions for the Marauders.

Canyons held Antelope Valley to 18 yards rushing in the first half.

Chad York had six receptions for 98 yards for the Marauders and David Gibson added four catches for 52 yards.

Winn injured his shoulder after being sacked in the second quarter and sat out for three plays, but returned to engineer the Cougars’ first touchdown drive.