Canyon Overcomes Injuries to Win, 21-6

Canyon High had a bye last week and came into Friday night’s game against Leuzinger hungry for action.

The Cowboys won easily, 21-6, but the game left a bad taste in Coach Harry Welch’s mouth.

Welch’s 5-0 team--ranked No. 1 in the Valley--already had lost top running back David McDivitt to a thigh bruise. Against Leuzinger (3-2), replacement Mark Santos dislocated his shoulder and Jeff Bernards suffered a probable concussion.

“We’re pretty banged up,” said Welch, whose team begins Golden League play against Quartz Hill next week. “We need a running back to get healthy.”

Quarterback Kevin Bialas provided most of host Canyon’s offense, completing six of 15 passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns. He ran 11 times for 27 yards.

Leuzinger helped out too, providing the Cowboys with excellent field position in the first half for Canyon’s three scores.

Midway through the first quarter, the Olympians’ Donal Byrd fumbled a punt and Canyon’s Joey McKeon recovered at the Leuzinger 19.

Two plays later, Bialas threw nine yards to Chris Spahr for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Leuzinger came roaring back with a five-play, 67-yard drive. Marvin Johnson cut back against the grain and ran for 49 yards, and quarterback Gary Mumin followed with a four-yard touchdown run. The score was 7-6.

But the game was never close again. Twice Canyon returned short punts deep into Leuzinger territory and the Cowboys took advantage by scoring two touchdowns in a three-minute span.

Bernards ran 10 yards for one score. Bialas threw 20 yards to Spahr for the other. Canyon led 21-6 at halftime.

The Cowboys’ defense dominated the second half as McKeon came up with an interception, his fifth in five games. Leuzinger was held to 116 yards in offense.

As if to punctuate its victory, Canyon mounted a 17-play drive that failed to produce a score but chewed up all but two minutes of the fourth quarter.