With Byrd at QB, Jags eye a title

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Aug. 27, 2001 | 11:03 a.m.

For most of Desert Pines' 2000 opponents, the lasting image of the Jaguars' offense will be that of bruising running back Cornell Johnson breaking tackles and leaving defenders in his wake.

The 6-1, 205-pound Johnson made an impression on everyone who saw him as a sophomore last year, rushing to the tune of 1,730 yards and 26 touchdowns and attracting attention from Division I powers such as Nebraska.

But Jaguars coach Gary Findley knows full well that no matter how much Johnson contributed last season, his club's one-year improvement from a winless squad in 1999 to a playoff power in 2000 would not have been possible without the offense's silent assassin, quarterback Darrell Byrd.

While Johnson grabbed most of the headlines, Byrd quietly put together an outstanding junior campaign in his own right, passing for 1,808 yards and 18 touchdowns. The duo combined to help give the Jaguars the area's most balanced offensive attack.

"Our philosophy on offense is take what's there," Findley said. "Some games Cornell will rush for over 200 yards, and some games Darrell will throw for over 300. If both of those guys stay healthy, it creates a lot of problems for defenses."

The Jaguars did just that in 2000, going from an 0-7 patsy in the school's inaugural campaign to an 8-3 juggernaut in season two. Desert Pines finished in a three-way tie for the Northeast Division title (a tiebreaker dropped it to a No. 3 seed), then toppled Foothill in the playoffs before bowing out against eventual Sunrise Region champion Eldorado.

Now, the Jaguars are suddenly being hailed, along with Palo Verde, Las Vegas and Foothill, as one of Southern Nevada's top state title hopefuls as the season kicks off this Friday.

"It's not going to be easy. We're not going to sneak up on anybody this year," Byrd said. "But we've worked hard. I want to win the division, the conference and hopefully, play for a state ring."

To that end, the 6-0, 175-pound Byrd spent his summer working with Desert Pines receivers, throwing 300-400 passes a day and studying up on Findley's offense, which should feature a few new wrinkles this year.

"This offense that we run has levels," Findley said. "When we were young and new, we kept it pretty simple. Then last year we added some things. Now, because of Darrell's experience, we've taken it to a new level and he's mastered it pretty well."

Among Byrd's top targets will be wideout Kevin Dyson, who caught 26 passes a year ago for 402 yards, and newcomer Jamar Barnes, a promising two-way player who will see time at a variety of offensive positions. And of course, lining up behind Byrd will be the durable and talented Johnson, as the Jaguars force opposing defenses to pick their poison.

This is the first in a five-part series of stories previewing the high school football season.