Cowboys’ defense is the star of this show

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Just like it did a few weeks back against Crespi, the Canyon defense is kicking the legs out from under a top running game. Tonight’s victim is Saugus.

Thanks to a clutch, five-yard TD pass by Sean Gavin to Stephen Wirthlin on third and goal, the Cowboys lead, 7-0, at halftime. Neither offense has looked too impressive, but a 28-yard catch by Wirthlin (who else would it be?) put the Cowboys into the red zone.

But how about that Canyon defense?

It’s held a Saugus team that has averaged more than 40 points a game this season to a big, Harry Welch Stadium scoreboard goose egg in the first half. And they’ve done that by putting the brakes on the Ryan Zirbel-Desi Rodriguez Show.

Zirbel has only 55 yards in six carries and Rodriguez has 17 yards in nine carries.

Canyon’s offense has also found a little more wiggle room against the senior-laden Saugus defense that I thought would be the star of the show. Cowboys’ QB Sean Gavin has completed nine of 14 passes for 97 yards and a TD. And, despite having a moment of frustration following a Saugus sack in the first quarter, Gavin has showed a lot of poise and control in the pocket -- something he wasn’t doing as much the last time I saw the Cowboys play.

-- Austin Knoblauch