Peery’s Return Provides Spark for Canyon

The Canyon High offense, which had sputtered during much of September, was purring like a kitten against Notre Dame on Friday night, thanks in part to a not-so-little addition.

That addition was 214-pound running back Chris Peery, who played his first game after undergoing groin surgery before the season began.

Peery, who got clearance to play from his doctor at 4 p.m. Friday and played in only the second half, gained 69 yards in 13 carries and scored twice to help lift Canyon to its first win of the season, a 45-29 win at Canyon.

“I just think it gives the team more confidence,” Peery said of his comeback. “It was an all-out effort but I’m a little out of shape.”

Cowboys Coach Harry Welch noticed as much.

“He can’t move. He’s bending over and gasping for air,” Welch said.

The final four minutes of the game was enough to leave Notre Dame fans in need of oxygen.

With 3:57 to play, Peery scored from the five-yard line to cap a 10-play, 80-yard drive that used up 5 minutes and 36 seconds of the fourth quarter. Chris Wilson, who replaced the injured Steve Mann in the second half, kicked the conversion to give Canyon a 38-29 lead.

On the third play of the ensuing drive, Notre Dame tailback Errol Small fumbled at his own 41 and the ball was recovered by Canyon’s Vince Nevieux.

On the next play, quarterback Tim Beidle’s pass was intercepted by Guillermo Eguez at the 29.

Notre Dame quarterback Greg Andrachick created the third turnover in less than a minute when his pass was intercepted by Scott Blade at the 40.

Five plays later, Beidle scored the final touchdown, from the 10.

Notre Dame (3-1) trailed, 24-14, at halftime but came out hot in the third quarter. The Knights stopped Canyon (1-2-1) on fourth and two at the Cowboys’ 23 and scored four plays later on an 11-yard run by Fano Malieitulua.

Canyon answered with a lengthy drive that ended on a two-yard Peery touchdown dive with 3:04 to play in the third quarter.

“They controlled the first half with (receiver Clint) Beauer and the second with Peery,” Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said.

Beauer, who scored two first-half touchdowns, caught five passes for 121 yards.

After Peery’s touchdown, the Knights battled back with a 73-yard drive. On a fourth-and-goal play, Small, who finished with a game-high 127 rushing yards in 22 carries, crashed in from the one. Andrachick hit Malieitulua on a conversion pass to trim the deficit to 31-29.

Canyon, which took a quick 14-0 lead, increased the margin to 17 points with 5:18 to play in the first half when Beidle dumped a short pass across the middle to Beauer, who cut to the sideline, broke up the field and outran the Notre Dame secondary for a 56-yard score. Mann’s kick made the score 24-7.

A scrambling Andrachick hit Matt Henry with a scoring pass for Notre Dame 55 seconds before intermission to draw the Knights within 10, 24-14.