It’s McQueen for a day

Adam Candee

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002 | 9:40 a.m.

Some amazing prep football teams have come and gone from McQueen High School in Ken Dalton's two decades at the helm.

So, for the head coach of northern Nevada's current prep powerhouse to look at his 2002 Lancers and separate them from the pack of great teams past, it is evident that this McQueen team is every bit the monster it appears to be.

"We really have never had nine shutouts in a season," Dalton said. "It has been a different year from that standpoint."

Nine shutouts ties the Nevada state record. It also highlights a combined margin of victory of more than 600 points in 13 games for an undefeated McQueen team ranked No. 50 in the nation by Student Sports.

The Nevada State Record Book bears out the strength of the Lancers even more. With 642 points, McQueen already shattered the Nevada state record for points scored in a season (613), a mark previously held by McQueen's 1999 team. With 28 points allowed, the Lancers rank 11th in state annals, making it the best defense in the past 23 years.

"It's business when we step onto the field," said Dalton, owner of four state titles.

Translation: If Desert Pines is going to win its first 4A state championship Saturday afternoon at Sam Boyd Stadium, it will most certainly earn it.

Beating Las Vegas -- which downed McQueen in overtime in last year's state title game -- to reach the state playoffs and downing Cheyenne to arrive in the state finals sent euphoria through Desert Pines High School, but Jaguars head coach Leon Evans said his team is back to business as usual.

"It's reality now," Evans said. "We're back in pads and we're hitting. The reality has set back in."

One Jaguar not hitting this week is standout running back Cornell Johnson. After tearing rib cartilage in the third quarter of last week's 26-6 state semifinal victory over Cheyenne, Johnson will not participate in contact drills this week. He did, however, get back to running in the past two days.

"He's about 70 percent (Wednesday)," Evans said. "You can expect that number to go up as the game gets closer."

Of course, 70 percent of Johnson is better than what most teams have to offer. Already past 2,000 rushing yards for the season, Johnson is eager to help Desert Pines complete its destiny season. He will play with his midsection heavily wrapped.

"He's getting better," Evans said. "There's still a little soreness."

Arriving at that destiny point for the fourth-year Jaguars program is motivating not only Johnson, but all of the Desert Pines players into a fifth month of the season.

"We've been shooting for this for four years and we're there," Evans said. "That's enough motivation this week to get them up."

Motivation has not been an issue at McQueen. A senior-heavy Lancers squad rolled through opponents all year, and Dalton marvels at his team's continued drive.

"We really have the ability to go ahead and focus every week," Dalton said. "This group is pretty loose. They're very, very disciplined."

One allegedly undisciplined moment in a remarkable season cost McQueen "our best player," according to Dalton. All-State tight end/linebacker Mohu Otuafi will serve a one-game suspension Saturday, the result of a personal foul penalty and ejection from last week's 45-0 state semifinal win over Palo Verde.

"That day of the Palo Verde game was probably the worst day of my life, but then again it was also a learning experience for me," Otuafi told NevadaPrep.com. "I don't want the team to lose focus on the state championship game because of my situation."

Dalton said the absence of Otuafi will not change the way the Lancers approach the game on either side of the ball.

"We have kids that can step right in and do one heck of a job," Dalton said.

Evans echoes that sentiment with regard to Johnson. The state's best running back will still be the focal point of the Desert Pines offense.

"You can't save anything now," Evans said. "We continue to do what got us there."

McQueen will be doing things the hard way in terms of travel, catching an early-morning flight to Las Vegas on Saturday. The Lancers will get a quick bite to eat before walking the field at Sam Boyd Stadium and beginning game preparation.

Desert Pines is planning a Friday afternoon walk-through at Sam Boyd. Evans said he will do everything possible to maintain the team's normal game day routines on Saturday morning.