College of the Canyons Set to Kickoff 2015 Season

The College of the Canyons football team will open its 2015 campaign tonight after traveling to face Mt. San Antonio College, the defending California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Champions.

Canyons enters the game looking to reestablish itself in the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) National Division, Northern Conference after finishing 4-6 in 2014 and just two seasons removed from its 2013 conference title.

"First and foremost, our goal is always to win the conference no doubt," COC head coach Ted Iacenda told reporters last week. "We feel like this is College of the Canyons and we should be conference champions and we won't accept anything less than that."

The Cougars wont face a conference opponent until their Sept. 26 contest at Pasadena. However, they will be tested early by a Mt. SAC team that defeated COC 42-19 in last year's season opener.

"To play our best, we will need to beat the best," added Iacenda in reference to facing the Mounties.

In doing so Iacenda will look to sophomore quarterback Devon Dunn, a 2014 SCFA All-League second team honoree, to lead a COC offensive squad that includes its share of playmakers.

Dunn passed for 790 yards and six touchdowns in 2014, while rushing for three more scores on the ground.

Included among the list of targets Dunn will be looking to connect with this season are wide receivers Vincent Strange, Nicholas Jones, Jackson French and Connor Byrnes.

Strange returns to the Cougars after first appearing in 2013, while Jones (Valencia High School) and Byrnes (Hart High School) join the team as freshmen.

"Vince is really really talented. He's a special guy," said Dunn. "And (Nick Jones) has some of the best pair of hands I've ever seen."

Two-way player Isaiah Foster could see some targets as well, in addition to contributing at the safety position.

"We really feel like Foster is going to be a big time player for us and a leader in the secondary," Iacenda said.

Also roaming the secondary for COC will be sophomore cornerback Jacob Smith, who Iacenda has described as "electric."

The Cougars will deploy a stable of standout linebackers in the form of Garrett Updegraft (Hart), Paul Puebla, Anthony Costleigh (Valencia), Austin Davenport (Saugus High School) and Will Pretty.

In the trenches Alberto Portillo (Saugus), Leroy Mealancon Jr., Sione Taufahema and Etani Tukuaho should all see time along the defensive line.

College of the Canyons and Mt. SAC will kickoff at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at Ken Gunn Stadium located at Walnut High School.