Tujague Leads Cougars To First Victory As Head Coach

LONG BEACH, Calif. – First-year College of the Canyons (1-0) head coach Garett Tujague earned his first win as the man in charge with a 31-21 victory over the Long Beach Vikings (0-1) on Saturday night. Sophomore quarterback Andrew Miramontes was 22-of-44 for 326 yards and three touchdowns, each to a different receivers.

The win comes in the first game of the 2007 campaign and improves the Cougars' record to 8-2 in season openers since 1998.

First-game jitters played a part on both teams as neither side was able to score in the first quarter. But COC was the first to settle into its offense as Miramontes displayed his passing game with a 20-yard pass to Jovonne Augustus at the 13:53 mark of the second quarter. The extra point by kicker Paul Weinstein was no good, but COC was up 6-0.

Weinstein made up for the missed extra point on the next Cougar drive as Miramontes pushed the Cougars down the field to the Long Beach 18-yard line but was unable to convert on third-and-eight. A 35-yard field goal by Weinstein at 8:52 increased the COC lead to 9-0.

Long Beach responded with its own scoring runs. The first, a 33-yard touchdown pass at the 5:57 mark and then a another 6-yard scoring pass with under a minute left in the half, placing the Vikings on top at halftime, 14-9.

With some regrouping during the break, Canyons opened their first drive of the third quarter by looking toward the ground game, which included a 26-yard rush by sophomore running back Raphael Reynolds, for a 10 play, 71-yard touchdown drive. The Cougars made their second appearance in the end zone at 8:02 when Miramontes connected on a three-yard pass to freshman running back Fred Winborn. A quarterback keeper on the extra point gave the Cougars the advantage again, 17-14.

Just 30 seconds later, the Vikings were back in the red zone, after Long Beach returned Weinstein's kickoff 85 yards to COC's 15-yard line. Only Weinstein's open field tackle prevented the score right then and there. Three plays later though, the Vikings took the lead again, 21-17, with 7:28 left in the third.

The Cougars scored on the next possession as Reynolds posted his first touchdown as a Cougar with a 10-yard run at 4:52. The extra point from Weinstein was good and COC took the lead for good with a 24-21 advantage.

The defense stepped up big in the fourth quarter, not allowing the Vikings to even imagine a comeback. On Long Beach's four drives, the team fumbled, had the ball intercepted and turned the ball over twice on downs.

For good measure, COC's defensive back Anthony Luna intercepted the ball on Canyons 13-yard line, setting up Miramontes and wide receiver Hayo Carpenter for a 72-yard touchdown pass. The TD and extra point from Weinstein with 9:24 left in the game earned the Cougars the win.

Reynolds topped the running backs with nine carries for 72 yards and a touchdown, while Carpenter led the air attack with 10 receptions for 199 yards and one touchdown.

Sophomore linebacker Job Lujan posted 10 tackles, six solo, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and two sacks for a loss of 23 yards. Freshman Matt Brown tallied eight tackles, five solo, while sophomore Taiino Herrera had six tackles, four solo and a pass breakup.

The Cougars return to action on Saturday, September 8 as they host their season opener against Fullerton College. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.