In one prodigious offseason, Adam Barry has progressed from comeback kid to team captain.

Come fall, his role evolves into main man for the Moorpark High football team.

Since the Musketeers' final game in the 2006 season, when Barry nearly rallied his team to its first CIF-Southern Section championship, the senior-to-be has seen more plot twists than Harry Potter.

Barry considered transferring to another program, then decided on staying put at Moorpark. He watched as Musketeers' star running back Darrell Scott left for St. Bonaventure. He girded himself for an aggressive strength-building program that so far has added 5 pounds of muscle, with 5 more pounds the target goal.

Now, as he prepares for his third season as Moorpark's starting quarterback, Barry finds himself in a comfortable place.

"I can't wait for the season to start," Barry said. "I'm very excited. We've been working so hard, everybody on this team. I'm definitely motivated by what happened last year. I want to get back to the championship game."

Moorpark coach Tim Lins is glad to return Barry as the offensive leader.

"He's certainly one of the best quarterbacks around," said Lins. "We're looking for a big year from him, and I expect that he will do that. We're glad to have him with us."

After starting for Moorpark squads that reached CIF-Southern Section championship games in consecutive seasons, the quarterback wrestled with a weighty decision last winter. Barry concedes he pondered not returning for his third year with the Musketeers.

"You have to think about the future and what's best and where's the best place to be," he said. "I decided that what was best for me was to be right here. Once that happened, I went to work. There was a lot to do to get ready for the season."

Lins believes Barry proved his loyalty to the Musketeers with a diligent work ethic.

"Once he recommitted to our program, he's worked extremely hard to get ready for next season," said Lins, who will launch his ninth season as Moorpark's head football coach. "We all saw the effort he was putting in to our offseason workouts. He's shown himself to be a good leader."

When Barry's "comeback" was assured, Lins appointed the quarterback as one of Moorpark's five team captains.

There's little doubt he becomes the centerpiece to an offense that no longer has Scott to torment opposing defenses. As a junior, Scott rushed for 3,194 yards and scored 46 touchdowns.

Now change is, well, in the air. A year ago, Barry completed 96 of 183 pass attempts for 1,553 yards and 16 touchdowns.

If not yet Air Musketeers, the Moorpark offense will rely heavily on Barry's strong right arm in 2007.

"I'm really excited about that," he said. "We'll be throwing the ball a lot more this season. I'll be running a lot more, too. I like the role, obviously. I want to do everything I can to help us win football games."

Barry is buoyed by the remarkable finish to the 2006 season in the CIF-SS Northern Division championship game against powerhouse Canyon at the Home Depot Center.

Hope, pride and promise spring from a final quarter in which Barry played like John Elway, and the Musketeers nearly had their own version of The Drive.

Trailing 21-7 in the final quarter, Barry first marched his team on a 12-play, 83-yard drive that ended with his 1-yard touchdown run with 6:15 left in regulation.

After a defensive stop by the Musketeers, Barry made like Peyton Manning. He completed four clutch passes in a 64-yard scoring march, including a 13-yard strike to Nick Karam that led Moorpark to a 22-21 lead with 1:15 left on the clock.

Alas, a dramatic win was not to be.

Canyon countermarched to the Moorpark 7-yard line and kicked an 18-yard field goal with eight seconds left that produced a 24-22 victory.

Despite the painful ending, Barry revelled in the competition.

"That was the best game I've every played in," he said. "It was the most fun I've ever had. People at school were coming up to me for weeks afterward and asking what it was like to play in that game."

Barry now prepares for the final chapter.

The Musketeers concluded their 7-on-7 summer schedule last weekend with their participation at St. Francis High.

Already blessed with a strong arm, Barry has worked on touch and accuracy this summer.

"He's throwing the ball very well," said Lins. "He's worked hard on throwing with touch and throwing all different kinds of routes. He should have a big year in front of him."

Moorpark has a new quarterback coach and offensive coordinator in former Hueneme High head coach Ryan Huisenga.

Barry is counting on trek No. 3 to the title game.

"No doubt about it," he said. "We all believe we can get there, and then win our first championship. We've graduated a lot of quality seniors. We'll have a new running back. But there is still plenty of talent here."