Canyon Proves Its Point, 52-45

After lopsided victories over five opponents who didn’t inspire the jitters, the only apparent weakness in Canyon Country Canyon’s game was its credibility.

“No one knows for sure,” Valencia Coach Brian Stiman was saying before kickoff Thursday, “but [Canyon] might be one of the top five teams in the Southern Section.”

Canyon (6-0, 1-0), ranked No. 14 in the Southland by The Times but having played one team with a winning record, made its mark with a 52-45 Foothill League victory over No. 23 Valencia (4-2, 0-1) before 4,000 at College of the Canyons.

Canyon’s offense, which outscored five previous opponents, 248-69, was similarly proficient against the Vikings, who had to rally three times this season for victory.

Canyon’s Nate Longshore, who last week committed to California, completed 23 of 41 passes for 359 yards with five touchdowns. He had two passes intercepted and also rushed 10 times for 45 yards. The teams combined for 1,000 yards of offense.

Canyon’s Sean Coen caught a school-record 13 passes for 190 yards and touchdowns of 14, 26 and 46 yards, and Tim Nailleux had seven receptions for 122 yards and touchdowns of 23 and 29 yards.

Yet it was Louis Montano’s second scoring run, a 25-yarder, with 2:37 left that provided the difference for Canyon.

Valencia sophomore Mike Herrick had four passes intercepted, two of them in desperation in the waning moments. Herrick completed 32 of 42 passes for 376 yards and four .

Martin Henderson

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Los Alamitos 28, Huntington Beach Edison 21--Quarterback Jimmy Barnes connected with Bryan Gordon for an eight-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter as the top-ranked Griffins rallied from a seven-point deficit for a Sunset League victory at Huntington Beach High.

No. 24 Edison (3-3, 0-1) led, 21-14, and drove into Los Alamitos territory early in the fourth quarter before Griffin linebacker Nathan Quinn intercepted a Brian Shrock pass near midfield and returned it for the tying touchdown with 11 minutes to play.

Los Alamitos (6-0, 1-0) got the ball back at the Edison eight-yard line after a snap sailed over the head of the Charger punter and Edison was assessed an illegal kicking penalty. The Griffins took the lead two plays later.

After the team exchanged punts, Edison’s final drive ended when Los Alamitos defensive back Chad Dunn intercepted a pass and returned it to the Charger 31.

Barnes completed nine of 19 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns, including an 88-yard scoring strike to Gordon that tied the score, 7-7, early in the second quarter. Gordon had four catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns.

Edison’s Matt White caught eight passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. He had an interception to set up a score.

-- Ben Bolch