ADAMS TWP — D.J. Cannon doesn't just have a quarterback's name.

He's got the arm to go with it.

Cannon, who is entering his senior year with the Mars High varsity football team, is coming off a stellar junior campaign.

In 2005, Cannon passed for 1,106 yards, making him the first Mars quarterback to throw for 1,000 yards since Doug Pilarski in 1988.

Cannon also threw for 12 touchdowns.

The numbers earned him a spot on the Butler Eagle's Sweet 16 Offensive squad.

"We've had good quarterbacks before, but they were more of a running threat than passing," said Mars coach Scott Heinauer.

"D.J. is more of a passer," he added. "He's got the strongest arm of any quarterback we've had."

Cannon's growth as a quarterback began before he reached the high school level.

"I started playing in sixth grade and was a wide receiver for the first two years," said Cannon. "Then I began playing quarterback in eighth grade."

And he's never stopped.

His sophomore season saw Cannon split time under center with Josh Keil, but he still managed 447 yards and six touchdown passes within a run-happy offense.

"Being able to play that year, I learned to just let things come to me," said Cannon. "Sometimes, I was trying too hard to make things happen."

A more relaxed and poised Cannon emerged last year, helping to lead the Planets to a 5-2 mark in the Tri-County North Conference, including four consecutive wins over Summit Academy, Neshannock, Shenango and Riverside by a combined score of 160-35.

That run helped the squad qualify for the WPIAL Class AA playoffs after barely missing postseason play in 2004.

The Shenango game, played on a cold and wet Saturday night in October, saw Cannon reach a career high of 201 yards passing.

With his two favorite targets, Tim Frye and Keil, threats to go all the way every time they touched the ball, Cannon managed touchdown passes of 93, 76, 65, 59, 53 and 42 yards.

His average scoring pass was from a lofty 41.4 yards from the end zone.

"His sophomore season, we didn't put much pressure on him," said Heinauer. "Last year, he became a more accurate passer."

Now, with one year left in his high school career, Cannon is being fine-tuned for what the Planets hope is another solid season.

"The coaches are working with me on a quicker release," said Cannon. "After I learn that, defenses won't be able to defend the pass as easily."

Heinauer knows that his team's hopes in 2006 rest on players that have been in big games and clutch situations before — players like Cannon.

"Any time you have a two-year starter coming back, that makes my job easier," said Heinauer. "He has the arm and we wanted to give him the chance to use it. It has really helped in spreading the defenses out.