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SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Despite finishing 2008 with a 10-0 regular season record, a National Division, Northern Conference Championship and a berth in the Southern California Championship game, College of the Canyons head coach Garett Tujague could only describe the season as "pretty good."

"2008 was a good year. It wasn't a great year because we fell a little short," Tujague said. "But we've evolved. We've made some adjustments to our offense to try and give our players a better chance to be successful, and we've made some changes to our defense to allow our players to flow to the ball a little better."

Youth will be served at College of the Canyons in 2009, as the Cougars return just six starters from last year's squad — while welcoming a large crop of new, and somewhat untested, freshmen and first-time Cougars to the program.

Nevertheless, after a long spring in the weight room and an intense and physically demanding summer of practices, Coach Tujague believes his team has the potential to accomplish great things.

"We're really young, but I feel good about what we've done. A really good indication of this team's potential came during the spring and summer workouts," Tujague said. "The guys have really bought into what we are trying to accomplish. We're working hard and that's something that Cougar football has always done. We don't know how good we're going to be yet, but we'll always work hard."

With an annual goal to win a conference championship, secure a playoff spot and win both a state and National Championship, the Cougars can not afford to look past their regular season schedule. And with a lineup of vastly improved conference foes gunning for the Cougars each week, Coach Tujague doesn't plan on letting that happen.

"I really like our conference," Tujague said. "Every week it's going to be a game our players will have to get up for, and that's exciting."

This season Canyons will look to replace the record-setting offensive production generated by the three-headed monster of running back Fred Winborn, wide receiver Hayo Carpenter and quarterback Brad McClellan by using a wider variety of players at the skill positions. The three accounted for 4,466 all-purpose yards and 49 touchdowns. Carpenter and Winborn hold almost all of the rushing, receiving and scoring records at COC and both earned conference player of the year during their tenure at Canyons.

"Are we going to miss those guys? Absolutely," Tujague said. "We're going to have to work harder and be more creative as an offensive staff in order to get the ball to other players, but I think as a position group, we are much stronger at the wide receiver and running back positions."

In addition to sophomores Mario Wright and D.J. Stephens, the Cougars will rotate speedster, Georgetown University transfer Barney O'Donnell, Canyon High School grad and 2006 State Championship team member, Mark Urbina, and West Ranch High School product, Frankie Madero, at the wide receiver positions.

In the backfield, Canyons will hand off running back duties to sophomores B.J. Iverson and Nick Hale, Saugus High School graduate and All-League Team member, Ryan Zirbel, and sophomore Curtis Bedgood.

Under center, sophomore quarterback Eric Brown and newcomer Justin Morales will compete for snaps behind an offensive live that returns starting right tackle Louiszell Alexander and sophomore center David Padilla.

"Size wise we're pretty good up front. Good size with lots of speed," Tujague said. "I think there's potential for our offensive line to be pretty special."

On the defensive side of the ball, Canyons is expected to showcase a mixture of speed, strength and experience. With four returning starters — including all-conference safety Josh Gibbs, cornerback Arron Fisher and defensive end Jake Tepper — the Cougar defense has the talent and leadership to make an impact each and every game.

"We've got some great new players coming in and some sophomores that have really stepped up in the off season," Tujague said. "In my 13 years at College of the Canyons this is the fastest defense I've ever been around."

Making up the Cougar linebacker core will be sophomore Evan Harrington who returns to the field after a shoulder injury cut his 2008 campaign short, former Canyon High School linebackers Justin Stevens and Mike Spagnola and twin brothers Justin and Ryan McKillup out of Saugus.

"Without a doubt, the play of our linebackers will be key," Tujague said.

As the Cougars' last line of defense, Gibbs, who is still learning the nuances of the safety position, and Fisher should provide the tight coverage and playmaking ability needed to create turnovers and get the Canyons offense back on the field.

"Josh Gibbs has an unbelievable nose for the ball," Tujague said, "and Fisher is an extremely smart player, and pound-for-pound, probably one of the best athletes on the team."

As for a prediction for the 2009 season, Coach Tujague makes just one guarantee.

"I can tell you that we will go out and play hard, we will play with great effort and we will have a great attitude doing it," Tujague said. "We will do everything in our power to represent this valley, this community and College of the Canyons in a positive manner."