Canyons Loses Conference Opener to El Camino

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - The College of the Canyons football team gave up a season-high 342 yards passing and six touchdowns to El Camino College on Saturday night, in both teams conference opener, and COC lost 42-21.

Combining a defense that gave up 488 offensive yards and an offense that produced 78 yards rushing and 240 yards passing, COC struggled against El Camino, which entered the game as Southern California's No. 2 team.

The Cougars defense got off to a slow start, giving up two quick scores in the first quarter.

The COC offense didn't score until the second quarter, with a ten-play, 85-yard drive, that was capped off with an eight-yard rushing touchdown from Keiotey Stenhouse.

The touchdown cut the lead to 14-7, but from that point on, El Camino scored 21 unanswered points and led 35-7 at the half.

Backup sophomore quarterback Chris Owens threw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The first one came on a 9-yard pass to freshmen wide receiver Matt Szymanski. Then with 5:43 minutes left, Owens threw a 40-yard TD pass to freshmen wide receiver Louis Gipson.

The Cougar defense was able to shutout the Warriors in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late.

Freshmen linebacker Jake Wolley and freshmen safety Jesse Sampson both recorded six tackles apiece, while freshmen safety Rashad Albert, freshmen linebackers Jake Hale and Jordan Stanton had four tackles each.

Owens finished the night 11-of-19 with 188 yards and two touchdowns. Szymanski led the team in receiving with 57 yards and a score and Gipson had 40 yards and a touchdown.

The loss marks the first time in school history that COC has lost to El Camino. The Cougars had previously beaten the Warriors in 2004, 2008 and 2010.

The Cougars are now 3-3 on the season and 0-1 in conference play

COC will be back at home Saturday, Oct 22, as they take on Allan Hancock College. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.