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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.

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

Lucky Radley is set to transfer yet again, this time to Agoura, according to several sources including Agoura's All-American prospect offensive lineman, Kevin Graf, who went with Radley to the UCLA football game Monday and said Radley attended Agoura's practice on Tuesday and also visited practice last week.

The plan according to sources is for Radley to change guardianship and move in with the family of Agoura receiver Bryce Majdick, Graf said.

Radley could not be reached.

Agoura coach Charlie Wegher acknowledged meeting Radley at practice but told him to go meet with the athletic director, per Southern Section rules.

"As of now, he's not enrolled as far as I know," Wegher said. "If he takes the steps and it's all kosher, that's something else."

Taft coach Matt Kerstetter, who has petitioned the City Section for Radley to be granted a hardship waiver at Taft instead of being forced to sit out for year because of transfer restrictions, said he knows nothing about it.

"I've hung out with Lucky Radley -- it looks like he will be coming here, though I don't think it's 100 percent for sure," Graf said. "He's a great guy. I think it will be great having him on the team. it will make a huge improvement and make us that much better."

Radley totaled more than 100 tackles as a sophomore last season for Crespi but was later suspended, then expelled shortly after returning. He attended school at Taft on Wednesday, Kerstetter said.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

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Canyon's top running back Antonio Bray, a transfer from Bakersfield, continues to wait to be cleared after transferring from Alemany, so he won't play Friday in the season opener against visiting Bakersfield.

"We just want to check everything and confirm everything. He'll probably suit up next week against Granada Hills," Canyon coach Chris Varner said.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TONIGHT

Garfield of L.A. (0-0) at Birmingham of Lake Balboa (0-0), 7:30: The PM era (post-Milton) begins for Birmingham, which begins its quest for a third consecutive City championship and fifth over the past seven seasons.

Birmingham has a top WR in USC-bound De'Von Flournoy, and the key to this season figures to be the development of the rest of the receiving corps, as all except Jake Granitz lack experience. If one or two WRs emerge, then returning QB Morey Croson should be primed for a big season.

Milton Knox's successor is promising junior Trajuan Briggs. Garfield won the City Invitational title last year but should be in way over its head.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

The circus surrounding boys basketball players and teams in the region this past summer is starting to finally come to an end.

Several players have landed at new schools, most notably 6'10 center Anthony Stover from Renaissance Academy of La Canada.

Stover, who was offered a scholarship by UCLA over the summer is enrolled and taking classes at Windward of Los Angeles. Stover led Renaissance to the Divison V state championship last season along with De'Andre Daniels, a 6'7 forward from Louisiana.

Daniels, as expected, enrolled at Taft of Woodland Hills Wednesday and Renaissance also lost guards Tremaine Tatum (South Pasadena) and Hector Harold (Mt. Herman Prep School in Massachusetts).

In addition to Daniels, Taft also picked up promising sophomore Dominique Evans from Van Nuys. Evans was the second best freshman last season right behind Campbell Hall of North Hollywood's Austin McBroom.

Taft, the defending City champion, now distances itself even further from the rest of the West Valley League as Daniels and Evans will join UNLV-commit Justin Hawkins, forward Terran Carter and 3-point specialist Michael Williams.

Evans leaving Van Nuys was another blow for the Wolves after losing Victor Rudd and Willie Hankins to Findlay Prep School in Las Vegas.

Brandon Graves, one of the Southland's brightest young football prospects, has been denied eligibility at Crespi of Encino after transferring from Los Alamitos.

Crespi is appealing via a hardship waiver, but it is not clear when the matter will be resolved.

Graves, a receiver/defensive back who has been living in the San Fernando Valley and practicing with Crespi since late June, caught 28 passes and scored one touchdown as a sophomore last season at Los Alamitos, one of California's top programs.

Graves also played varsity basketball at Los Alamitos.

If the appeal process does not go his way, Graves will be forced to sit out one year before resuming varsity participation.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com