A QUIET IMPACT SPEAK SOFTLY, HIT HARD CANYON LINEBACKER JURADO MAKES MOST OF HIS NOISE ON THE FIELD.

Byline: IVAN OROZCO Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - Nick Jurado is a quiet hitter.

The Canyon of Canyon Country linebacker doesn't come across as an orthodox football player with his soft voice and polite etiquette.

But the 6-foot, 205-pound senior transforms into a hard-hitter on the field.

He's an integral part of the Cowboys' defense, which has held opponents to 48points in the past six games.

``(Jurado) brings so much intensity,'' Canyon coach Harry Welch said. ``He moves very well. That's always good for a linebacker.

``It helps that he's tough. If told, he would run through a brick wall.''

Jurado has had success plowing through blockers and often is first to reach ballcarriers as part of a swarming Canyon defense.

``J.J. DiLuigi, Ben Longshore get their attention on the offensive side of the ball, but our defense has done just as much to take us where we are,'' Welch said. ``And Nick Jurado is a big part of that.''

At one point, it didn't seem that Jurado would make it to this point in the season.

He suffered a knee injury Oct. 6 against Crespi of Encino, and the preliminary diagnosis was a torn anterior cruciate ligament. But an MRI revealed only a bruised knee.

``It looked like someone put a volleyball in it and inflated it,'' Welch said of Jurado's knee. ``We thought he was gone. All I know is that he was in incredible pain.

``Even after that, he came to practice (the next day). I don't think he's ever missed practice.''

The swelling in Jurado's knee was reduced after he underwent ultrasound therapy and took anti-inflammatory medicine.

He was on the field the next week in the Cowboys' 41-25 victory against Foothill League rival Hart of Newhall.

``The hardest thing during that was having confidence that my knee was going to be there, although it didn't feel it was going to be there,'' Jurado said. ``Pain is part of football. I was able to suck it up.

``It's just fun to know that something you thought you lost you were able to recover and be able to play.''

Jurado and the Cowboys' defense face one of their biggest challenges of the season Saturday when they take on Moorpark and running back Darrell Scott in the Northern Division championship game at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

``Darrell Scott is going to be playing in the NFL on Sundays,'' Welch said of the Musketeers' running back, who has rushed for 3,076 yards and 44touchdowns this season. ``There's absolutely no way to stop him. You just hope what we do slows down his greatness.

``We'll have to get Nick in a position to tackle (Scott) a few times.''

Canyon will be playing for its secondconsecutive CIF title. The Cowboys will face Moorpark (11-2), which Canyon defeated 33-14 in both teams' season opener.

But Moorpark has won 11 of its 12 games since.

``It's going to be a team effort,'' Jurado said. `` It's not going to be one guy, it's going to be 11 guys playing together to slow down that monster (Scott).''

Jurado, who transferred from Santa Clarita Christian after his freshman year, is thankful he is able to finish out his senior season.

``I came here and was able to play with guys I played with in Pop Warner,'' Jurado said. ``That made the transition of coming here a little easier.''

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Canyon High of Canyon Country linebacker Nick Jurado is part of a Cowboys defense that has allowed just 48 points in the past six games.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer