Newbury Park Quarterback Back in Town

Newbury Park High’s quarterback is back.

After moving with his family to West Chester, Pa., in January, Jai Johnston has returned to Newbury Park for his senior year--to graduate with his friends and to play football.

As a backup and occasional starter for the Panthers last season, Johnston completed 37 of 89 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns. He left his projected starting position behind, however, when his father, Tom, was transferred to the southeastern Pennsylvania town.

“Jai was depressed,” his mother, Esther, said. “He made a lot of friends, but it wasn’t the same.

“Neither one of us wanted to move, but we had to follow my husband.”

So Jai followed, but not without reservations. And when the opportunity came to transfer back, he jumped at it.

“It was rough,” he said of the initial move. “Just making new friends, being the new kid. Schools were a lot rougher out there. Being the new kid they gave me something of a hassle. I could handle it, though.”

Johnston chose not to, however, and moved in with Ed and Shirley Black, longtime friends of his parents who he said he loves “as if they were family.”

It leaves Johnston in a position to try to lead Newbury Park to its first playoff berth since 1986. The Panthers were 3-6-1 last season.

“It just answered one more question,” said George Hurley, who recently replaced Ken Cook as head coach. “At least we hope it does. Besides having a fairly strong arm, the leadership will be a big help for us. He’s known to the kids.

“And a lot will depend on how the other kids come along.”

The 6-foot, 165-pound Johnston is hoping for some help from a running game that averaged less than 90 yards a game last season.

“The difference will be how the line performs,” Johnston said. “Right now, we’re looking for a backfield, but I figure if we can get someone to run really hard and the line blocks, we’ll be OK.”

The line likely will benefit from the addition of Mark Rodwell, a senior tight end who played at Newbury Park as a sophomore but spent his junior season with his family in Colorado. Johnston said that he and Rodwell, who is 6-4, 190 pounds, connected for “at least 10” touchdowns when the two were sophomores.