Canyon Faces Prospect of 1988 Without Peery

Chad Sweetnam has never carried a football in his life, at any level of play. Next season at Canyon, as the probable starting tailback, he’ll carry it plenty. Chris Peery, who rushed for 1,290 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore last season for the Cowboys, may never carry it again.

Peery, named the state sophomore player of the year by Cal-Hi Sports and the only sophomore named to The Times’ All-Valley first team, may not be enrolled at Canyon next year because of academic and personal problems.

Peery (6-2, 223), who temporarily quit the team last year after saying he was tired of playing, could not be reached for comment. Coach Harry Welch, usually an optimist, was uncharacteristically downcast in discussing Canyon’s backfield prospects for next season. Junior Cam Cross, another starting running back who quit the same week as Peery but never rejoined the team, also will not return, Welch said.

“That’s just the way it is,” Welch said. “It’s going to be a different look next year, that’s for sure.”

Sweetnam, a 5-10, 165-pound former lineman, will try to pick up the slack. Welch, however, had no reservations about estimating the magnitude of Peery’s absence.

“Without him, we go from being a very good team to a good one--maybe even a shade under good,” he said. “There’s no question he’s one of the best sophomores in the state. But he’s going through some bad times, and I just don’t see him playing next year.”

Canyon received a boost, however, with the transfer of Sean McCune, who shared the quarterback job last season at Agoura. Welch said McCune, a 6-3, 195-pound junior, will play inside linebacker next season for the Cowboys.

The bulk of the offense may fall to quarterback Rod Baltau, who passed for 1,095 yards and six touchdowns last year.