Canyon Roars Back Again, 26-14

Canyon High pulled off another second-half comeback Friday night, scoring 26 consecutive points to defeat Thousand Oaks, 26-14, in a nonleague game at Canyon.

The Cowboys (2-1), who trailed San Clemente, 21-0, two weeks ago before pulling out a 35-21 victory, fell behind, 14-0, after Thousand Oaks quarterback Trevor Thompson ran one yard for a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.

Thousand Oaks (0-2-1) playing without standout tailback Quincy Jacobs, who was sidelined because of a pulled groin muscle sustained during practice this week, moved the ball successfully throughout the game but never made it back to the end zone.

“Looked like a blowout,” Canyon Coach Harry Welch said. “I didn’t realize it, but--just like San Clemente--we shut the door and scored 26 points in a row.”

Senior tailback Ed Williams led the comeback with 162 yards and two touchdowns in 22 carries. Williams scored on one-yard runs in the third quarter and again with 3 minutes 15 seconds to play.

Backfield mate Sean McDermott ran for 37 yards in eight carries, but, more importantly, hauled in three passes over the middle for 60 yards. McDermott’s last grab on the Cowboys’ final drive was good for 27 yards and a first down at the five.

Thousand Oaks parlayed a pair of first-quarter touchdown drives into a 14-0 lead. Fred Polito, who gained 161 yards in 23 carries, capped a six-play, opening-series drive with a 27-yard touchdown run after gains of 11, 10 and 15 yards.

Manfred Wagner, Jacobs’ replacement, rushed for 46 yards. But Thousand Oaks obviously missed Jacobs, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season.

“I thought the kids played really well,” said Coach Bob Richards, whose Lancers are winless after playing three teams from the Santa Clarita Valley. “I wouldn’t speculate on what would have happened (if Jacobs played).”

The Lancers marched 59 yards in eight plays to score again on Thompson’s quarterback sneak.

Canyon got on the board on its ensuing drive after Williams’ 56-yard kickoff return gave the Cowboys the ball at the Thousand Oaks 38. Five plays later, Sean Connelly tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jared McKeon.

With 1:50 left in the half, the Cowboys marched 82 yards to score on a five-yard touchdown pass from Connelly to McKeon. Matt George’s PAT kick was blocked and Thousand Oaks held a 14-13 halftime lead.