The once-dynamic Desert Ridge backfield suffered another massive blow.

This time, the Jaguars will play out their season without quarterback Tarek Morrison, who suffered a torn ACL against Avondale Westview last week and is out for the rest of the playoffs, which continues on Friday night against Hamilton in the semifinals at Highland H.S.

Morrison’s freak injury comes three weeks after the Jaguars lost RB J.J. Husar to a torn ACL in Week 8 of the regular season against Mesa.

Jaguars coach Jeremy Hathcock said Morrison was hurt when he tried to spin out of a tackle on running play around the edge and his foot was caught in the ground which bent his knee awkwardly.

A sophomore, Morrison rushed 1,337 yards and 18 touchdowns this season from under center. He also threw for 861 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions.

Tarek’s brother, Taren, along with Nathaniel Rodriguez, figure to get most of the carries moving forward, while backup QB Brendon Smith will do the passing. Smith played a full season of JV last year and is 12 of 21 passing for 260 yards, a touchdown and an interception in spot duties throughout this season.

But it’ll be tough to replace 2,500 yards and 44 total touchdowns.

“If those guys were still here, we’re better built to beat them than just about anybody,” Hathcock said. “We’re going to doing the best at what we have to do. We have other guys who can play, and they’ll have to.”

Tags: acl, Desert Ridge, injury, Jeremy Hathcock, JJ Husar, Tarek Morrison