HS FOOT: Canyon looks to keep building under new coach

Coming off its best season since legendary Harry Welch left in early 2007, Canyon has a new coach in former assistant Rich Gutierrez -- one of the last links to Welch, as Gutierrez was a JV assistant for two years before Harry left after having the stadium named after him.

The Cowboys went from 2-9 to 10-2 this past season before Chris Varner surprisingly resigned, and two of the Northern Division's most dynamic performers are set to return in junior quarterback Jonathan Jerozal and sophomore receiver Drew Wolitarsky.

"We've got some phenomenal kids. I feel honored," Gutierrez said. "They're good kids. I couldn't ask for anything more."

Gutierrez played high school football at Saugus.

"The Canyon tradition, when you grow up around here, it's kind of inherent," Gutierrez said. "Plus, I went to church with a lot of Canyon kids back then."