Cougar Football Racks Up Conference Accolades

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. –The College of the Canyons football team capped off a second-place finish in Western State Conference Mountain Division play with 20 All-WSC accolades, including a Co-Player of the Year Award for freshman running back Fred Winborn. Head coach Garett Tujague also earned Co-WSC Coach of the Year honors with Bakersfield's Jeff Chudy.

Winborn, a Grant High School graduate, earns the division award and first team unanimous honors after leading the WSC in rushing with 144 carries for 1,282 yards for 128.2 yards per game. The freshman scored 16 touchdowns in 10 games and had the highest average per carry (8.9), and was the scoring leader with 18 touchdowns in the conference. He also became the Cougars all-time single-season rusher and became the first to ever tally more than 1,000 yards in one season.

Winborn becomes the first COC player to win the award as a freshman and follows a group of talented players from College of the Canyons that also received the same honor – Terence Scott in 2006, Marcel Marquez in 2005, Tyrell Smith in 2004, Domata Peko in 2003 and Isaac Sopoaga in 2000. 

Freshman wide receiver Hayo Carpenter earned his first unanimous conference nod following a season that solidified him as one of the best receivers in the WSC. The Burroughs-Ridgecrest graduate led the conference in receiving yards per game (118.8), total receiving yards (1,188) and tied with two other players with the most reception touchdowns (9).

Freshman defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul received his unanimous vote after leading the conference with 12 sacks, 10 solo, for a loss of 80 yards, the most yardage by any player in the WSC. The Deerfield, Fla., native was also fifth in tackles for a loss with 12 for a loss of 54 yards.

Kailua High School alum Kainoa LaCount was the Cougars last unanimous selection. As an offensive lineman, the sophomore helped Canyons top the conference in scoring offense, total offense, fourth down conversions, red zone offense and first downs.

The Cougars have now had 192 players earn all-conference honors since football returned to college in 1998.

First Team:
Freshman running back Fred Winborn (unanimous selection)                        
Freshman wide receiver Hayo Carpenter (unanimous selection)
Freshman defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul (unanimous selection) 
Sophomore offensive lineman Kainoa LaCount (unanimous selection)
Sophomore return specialist/running back Raphael Reynolds
Sophomore defensive back Tyler Roby
Freshman linebacker Matt Brown
Freshman defensive lineman Jonathon Hollins
Freshman defensive lineman Cedrick Hall

Second Team:
Sophomore offensive lineman Tyler Staley (second team All-WSC in 2006)
Freshman offensive lineman Joe Evinger
Sophomore defensive back Chris Black
Sophomore linebacker Job Lujan
Sophomore defensive lineman Clayton Byrd

Honorable Mention:
Freshman offensive lineman Shawn Johnson
Freshman offensive lineman Joe Thompson
Freshman running back Sean Quinn
Sophomore defensive back Taiino Herrera
Freshman defensive back Anthony Luna
Freshman defensive back Robbie Cassleberry