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CANYON COUNTRY – Among the nation’s most dominant high football programs in the 1980s, Canyon is doing everything possible to connect with its past in preparation for Friday night’s Southern Section Div. II championship game against Hart at Home Depot Center in Carson. A major step is the surprise presence of onetime Canyon star Chuck Osborne, a former NFL defensive lineman who flew in from Boston late Sunday to spend the week as a special assistant coach. Osborne was a member of Canyon’s 1988 team, the school’s last to advance to a section final. When he learned Canyon had qualified for another championship game, he hopped on a plane. “I owe it to (coach) Harry Welch and Cowboy football to come out and help in any way I can,” said Osborne, a former University of Arizona standout who played for the Rams and Raiders and was on the Packers’ and Patriots’ rosters during a four-year NFL career. “This team and this school made me what I am today.” AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREBlues bury Kings early with four first-period goals Welch has remained close to Osborne through the years – he flew to Boston last year to attend Osborne’s wedding – but was shocked to see him again. “I’m sitting in my office on Monday answering about 37 e-mails, and all of sudden someone comes beyond me and grabs me hard enough to rearrange my spine,” Welch said. “I turned around to see this handsome, 300-pound man – it was Chuck. It was amazing.” Osborne, who runs a mortgage business, told Welch there was no way he’d miss Canyon’s first championship appearance in 17 years. “The wonderful thing is Chuck comes out and inspires our kids,” Welch said. “To have these players from the past come by and encourage the kids helps them not just with football, but as human beings. They see a connection with the past and the present, and that link forms a complete circle. That’s what’s so beautiful.” Osborne won’t have any official duties. He’s merely there to offer a few tips and, more importantly, provide inspiration. “He’ll leave a wonderful memory for these 17-year-old men to connect with the past and to show them that people care about them,” Welch said. “So in that respect, will he really help me? Yes, because my goal is to make them better men. “Of course, Chuck knows a lot of stuff, but we don’t want to start changing things during the last week of the season. I wouldn’t have someone come in and start coaching like that.” Osborne will spend the afternoons helping at practice. “Because I’m missing out on some business back home, it’s costing a lot of money to be here, but it’s worth it,” he said. “I’m willing to help in any way I can, but it’s a little hard for me to evaluate high school football because it’s been so long, and the pro game is so much faster. The one thing I’ve noticed is the kids seem bigger today. When I was in high school, I was 240, but I remember everyone else seemed like 180.” Quarterback Austin Civita said he and his teammates were moved to learn Osborne had come all the way from Boston to lend a hand. “It’s cool. You know, it just feels good that people believe in us like this,” Civita said. “When Chuck got here, everyone was just like, ‘Whoa.’ It was just so awesome, because everyone knows who he is, but we’ve never met him before. I’m glad he’s here, because when the older players show they believe in us and stuff, then everyone gets fired up for practice.” Melissa DiLuigi, a former Canyon cheerleader and the older sister of star running back J.J. DiLuigi, performed the national anthem prior to Saturday’s semifinal victory over Valencia. DiLuigi, 19, who is planning a career as a recording artist, was doing her best Whitney Houston impression before the sound system suddenly broke down about 30 seconds before finishing. No problem. The sellout crowd knew the rest of the words and picked up the song where DiLuigi left off, so there was barely a glitch. Canyon Country restaurant Route 66 will play host to a hot dog-eating contest featuring football players from Canyon, Hart, Valencia and Saugus during halftime on Super Bowl Sunday. The winner gets a $250 donation to the team booster club. Myron McAfee rushed for two long touchdowns to boost the 8-under Canyon Country Pee Wee football team to a 30-6 victory at Camarillo in the Pacific Youth Football League championship game Saturday. Quarterback Alex McKenna added a touchdown run as Canyon Country built a 22-point halftime lead and didn’t allow a first down through three quarters. Christopher Riddle, Marcus Adams, Noah Chandler, Elijah McCormick and Ely Quijas sparked the defense. Gerry Gitelson’s column appears in the Daily News three times a week. He can be reached at (661) 257-5218 or gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! read more