The Saugus girls cross country team has won two straight Div. I championships. The team will compete in Div. II this year, and some of the girls aren't happy with the move.
Saugus was moved down because of its enrollment. The team was ranked No. 1 in Div. II in a recent poll released by dyestatcal.com. Saugus is ranked third in the nation by Harrier magazine.
Coach Rene Paragas says he follows the Harrier rankings. His girls want to be ranked No. 1 in the nation, but they are more focused on winning another CIF championship. Senior Brianna Jauregui said she was kind of mad her team was moved into Div. II.
"I can see why we're being knocked down," she said. "It makes it harder for us to get our team goals."
Paragas stresses personal improvement. He wants to see his runners post faster times and have stronger races as the season progress. Jauregui said racing against Div. II competition at the end of the season will make it more difficult to maintain that level of improvement her coach likes to see.
"In the beginning, I was a little disappointed," said senior Anne Randall. "We're using it to our advantage and it's not going to stop us. We have our sights set on a national title. It's not going to stop us."
The Saugus girls get their first team Friday at the Seaside Invitational in Ventura.

I know the basketball is more than two months away but I just couldn't wait to post this list of some top freshman who are ready to make a splash in the region this upcoming season.

Lauren Holiday-Campbell Hall
Rishonda Napier-Bell-Jeff
Monet McNally-L.A. Baptist
Brianna Barrett-Oaks Christian
Karen Yap-El Camino Real
Shawn Kolani-Taft

This is a short list. If someone was left off, email me at jack.pollon@dailynews.com

Marquis Jackson, the former All-City defensive end from Birmingham who lost a Fresno State scholarship because of grades, is playing for College of the Canyons after first working out with Moorpark College this past summer.

Canyons, which defeated Antelope Valley College on Saturday in the season opener, is ranked No. 1 in the nation among JC programs.

Among other Canyons notables: D.J. Stephens (Kennedy), Germi Morrison (Monroe), Anthony Dawkins (Granada Hills), Ricky Drake and Josh Gibbs (Valencia), Steve Gourley (Grace Brethren), Eddie Smith (Saugus) and Brandon Pittman (Lynwood/Saugus),

Meanwhile, Chris Andrade, a top linebacker from Monroe, has left Moorpark's team to pursue academic interests.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Christian Lopes, who hit 10 home runs as a Valencia freshman this past spring, has been named to the USA National Team (16-under).

The team is scheduled to participate in a 10-day international tournament in Mexico beginning Friday.

I've been following Lopes since he was 10 years old when he led the William S. Hart PONY team to the Mustang World Series in Texas. Back then, he could hit a baseball 250 feet -- WAY over the fence. These days, Lopes can hit 400-foot home runs and throws a 90 mph fastball.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Daniel Owen completed seven of 20 passes for 103 yards including touchdown passes of 25 and 31 yards to Jon Hilliger and D.J. Tripoli respectively to lead the Knights to a 25-10 victory against Calvary Murrieta.

Tripoli also rushed for 108 yards on 12 carries including a 33 yard touchdown that essentially sealed the game with 2:32 remaining.

By Gerry Gittelson
Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - Founded in 1893, Bakersfield High is one of California's oldest high school football programs, and the visiting Drillers were giving Canyon an old-fashioned whipping Friday in the season opener at Canyon.

Central Section power Bakersfield, 13-1 last season, did nothing fancy, employing a basic but increasingly effective running attack that wore down the Cowboys, who fell behind by as much as 24 points in the fourth quarter.

But Canyon came roaring back, scoring three touchdowns over a six-minute span to make it respectable in a 38-32 loss before a crowd of about 5,000 at Canyon.

Canyon (0-1) is in serious need of respectability after finishing just 4-6 last season after winning two Northern Division titles in a row in 2005 and 2006. Had the Cowboys come back all the way, this would have been quite a comeback, but there is nothing to be ashamed of in losing to a defending section champion, so the onus is on Canyon to build from this defeat.

In the fourth quarter, Canyon scored on Chris Rivas' 67-yard touchdown, Geffen Camp's 10-yard run and finally Tyger Rodriguez's 84-yard fumble return with 54 seconds remaining.

But onside kicks failed after all three touchdowns, and Canyon ran out of time.

Canyon jumped to a 14-7 lead in the first quarter, but Bakersfield (1-0) answered with 31 consecutive points.

Playing without top running back Antonio Bray (ineligible), Canyon succeeded with it passing attack. Jordan Adamczyk completed 14 of 22 for 264 yards and a 67-yard touchdown to Rivas (seven receptions, 176 yards).

But Canyon simply could not stop Bakersfield's ground game, as the Drillers amassed 417 yards, 364 rushing. J.J. Johnson rushed for 120 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries, and Alfonso Jackson added 125 yards on 16 carries.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

it's 26-14 Bakersfield over Canyon at the half here at Canyon High, and the second half is about to get underway.

Canyon jumped to a 14-7 lead in the first quarter, but Bakersfield responded with three consecutive touchdowns to forge a 26-12 halftime lead.

Canyon started impressively enough, driving 63 yards in 14 plays while eating up nearly six minutes, but the Cowboys could not cash in, fumbling away the hold on a 26-yard field goal attempt.

Bakersfield's Chris Anderson returned the fumble 50 yards to 17, and Dakota Velasquez scored three plays later on a 1-yard run.

Canyon kept the pressure on, driving 70 yards on seven plays, scoring the first touchdown on Chris Reed's 11-yard run.

On the next series, Canyon took advantage of a Bakersfield fumble and scored on Geffen Camp's 2-yard run.

But Canyon failed to record a first down over its next three series, and Bakersfield proved increasingly successful with a straight-ahead offense that wasn't fancy but was physical.

Bakersfield amassed 182 yards in the first half, 168 rushing.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Oaks Christian Nick Montana has thrown just five passes in the first half in his debut as the Lions quarterback but two have gone for touchdowns.

The Junior has completed 3 of 5 pass for 81 yards in the first half as Oaks Christian leads 14-7.

Montana connected with Chris Coyle on a 25-yard scoring pass and then throw a 40-yard strike to Malcolm Jones with 20 seconds remaing in the first quarter.

Sitll just more than hour before kickoff, but I was so pumped about football season starting again that got here WAY early at Canyon, as the Cowboys prepare to face Central Section power Bakersfield (13-1 last year) in the opener, Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

Bakersfield is a good team -- the Drillers are favored by 15 on calpreps -- but Canyon is always a tough progam even though the Cowboys finished just 4-6 last season after winning consecutive Northern Division titles in 2005 and 2006.

No Antonio Bray tonight. The ultra fast running back for Canyon has eligibility issues because of his transfer from Alemany, but word is he'll probably be OK by next week.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Here's a scoop: Taft linebacker Nick Bruce was offered a scholarship today by Fresno State.

"It's his offer, and that's good because the first one is always the toughest," Taft coach Matt Kerstetter said.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com