An injury destroyed his shoulder. Mountain View QB proves he’s back in upset vs. Meridian
Justin McGee’s junior season ended in one of the most brutal ways possible.
Mountain View’s jack-of-all-trades separated his shoulder, broke his clavicle and humerus, and tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder last fall, forcing him to spend a grueling offseason doing rehabilitation.
But the senior proved he’s back and better than ever Friday, leading the Mavericks to a 31-26 upset win over Meridian, the 5A SIC preseason favorite.
The dual-threat quarterback went 10-for-13 for 101 yards and two TDs through the air, and he ran for 107 yards, the game-winning score and a pair of first downs to ice the game.
“He’s probably the most athletic player I’ve ever seen on this field,” Mountain View senior defensive back Kobi Renner said. “... With the dislocated shoulder and everything like that, he’s definitely earned this night.”
The Mavericks (1-0) entered the season wondering what to do with McGee. He played everything from wide receiver to running back to quarterback last fall, proving himself a difference maker at all three positions.
He went into fall camp in a quarterback battle. But instead of throwing it all on McGee’s rebuilt shoulder, the Mavericks forced Meridian (0-2) to defend a two-quarterback system. McGee rotated with Henry Nelson (2-for-6, 20 yards), taking control of the offense on most downs but ceding control in obvious passing situations to the big-armed Nelson.
“We’re gonna utilize our personnel and utilize our roster,” Mountain View coach Brian Compton said. “So whether we’re playing multiple running backs or multiple tight ends or multiple wideouts — or quarterbacks — we feel we can do that and have success with it.”
McGee said he has no problem sharing that success. Not after the offseason he endured to work his way back on to the field.
“I’m really a self-motivated person,” McGee said. “But that (injury) just gave me 10 times more motivation.
“I was dialed in all offseason. I was ready to make this season the most memorable thing ever, and we started it the right way.”
That start included several momentum-swinging plays from the Mavericks’ defense that fueled a 17-0 lead Meridian could not overcome. Renner intercepted a pass at his own 5-yard line to end Meridian’s promising opening drive. He then blocked and recovered a punt at the Warriors’ 15-yard line before Owen McBride added a pick-six interception in the third quarter.
Meridian cut the lead to five points with 4:56 left in the game on Rylie Byington’s 2-yard touchdown catch. That 19-play, 80-yard drive drained 7:13 off the clock, but with nearly 5 minutes remaining, the Warriors opted to skip the onside kick.
The Mavericks never let them see the ball again, avenging a pair of state playoff losses to their crosstown rival the past two years.
“We’ve been waiting for this for two years,” McGee said. “They’ve ended our seasons two years in a row. It’s been a long time coming.”
MERIDIAN LEADERS
Quarterback Zeke Martinez finished 23-for-34 for 271 yards and three TDs, and he ran for 58 yards and another score. But Mountain View intercepted him twice, handing the defending state runner-up its second straight loss to start the season.
Marco Del Rio turned 13 offensive touches into 144 yards and a touchdown, and Byington had 10 offensive touches for 86 yards and a score.
UP NEXT
Mountain View travels to Rocky Mountain (2-0) next week for the annual Battle of the Mountains rivalry.
Meridian takes a bye week before hosting Middleton (1-1) in its first 5A SIC Foothills Division game on Friday, Sept. 8.
This story was originally published August 25, 2023 at 11:10 PM.
