Buena’s Scott Still Mindful of Wily Coaching Counterpart at Canyon

Rick Scott might have become a local hero in Ventura after transforming Buena into a winner in his first season, but comparisons to a former rival still hound the Bulldog coach.

Halfway through a new season, Scott still talks about Canyon Coach Harry Welch, his Santa Clarita Valley nemesis during Scott’s 4 years at Hart.

“Beating Harry was an obsession with me,” Scott said. “He was a demigod in the community. You could never win sharing the limelight with Harry and his team. He doesn’t do anything without flair. It’s that Cowboy football. People eat it up.”

Scott’s teams were 41-9-2, including 20 consecutive Foothill League wins and a Northwestern Conference championship in 1986. But Hart beat Canyon only once in 4 years.

“Whatever you do, he does one better,” Scott said. “Make that four times better. We had a 13-game winning streak. He had a 46-game winning streak. We were Southern Section champs, so was he. I would practice eight hours. He would practice 12. You can’t win. You can’t even break even.

“When Santa Clarita became incorporated, Harry could have run for mayor and won easily.”

Buena (5-1), a Channel League member, plays in Division II, which also includes Canyon. The teams could meet in the playoffs.

“Nothing against Harry. But I’m glad I don’t play against him anymore,” Scott said. “I said I would like to play Harry for the Southern Section championship only because it would mean we were good enough to get there.”