McFootball makes strides

GRIDIRON GAUNTLET Counter-clockwise starting from the top right: Connor Greer (#21) returns a kick against Langley. Ryan Jessar (#24) churns for extra yards against Mount Vernon. The Highlanders’ defensive front lines go up against the Langley offensive line. The ‘Ders celebrate their 16-7 win over rival Langley. Bijan Soltani (#14) lets a pass fly during the Langley game. The Highlanders lift the Rotary Cup after beating Langley. Billy Ludwick (#5) runs after a catch against Mount Vernon.

EMILY FRIEDMAN SPORTS EDITOR | ANDY CHUNG REPORTER

Following a sudden halt to activities in the fall as a result of pandemic restrictions, McLean’s football season came and went quickly this spring. With players eager to hit the field again, their sights were set on district stardom. When a positive coronavirus case resulted in benching their entire starting wide receiver core, the beginning of the season was nearly derailed. Nevertheless, the McLean football team was able to put together a three-game winning streak to start the season despite an incomplete team.

The constant threat of positive cases was not the only effect coronavirus had on the football season. With students unable to attend games this year, the once large and supportive McLean student section was not able to cheer on their Highlander football team.

“It’s a bummer to not have all your friends and family in the stands, especially when you’ve experienced a student section like ours, but no matter how few parents or seniors show up, they always do a great job showing support and keeping us motivated no matter how small the crowd,” senior quarterback Bijan Soltani said.

The Highlanders didn’t let the empty stands hurt their performance on the field. They went 3-0 through their first three games, which they haven’t done since 2011.

“I know they would kill to have fans here, but at the end of the day they have to go out and play. It’s a little bit weird not having a student section being as awesome and as amazing as it usually is,” head coach John Scholla said. “They’ve done a really good job playing hard for each other and for the love of the game.”

The team, led by a strong group of upperclassmen, made the best of a shortened season which only consisted of six regular season games this year.

“Most of our starters last year were juniors with one or two sophomores,” junior tight end and defensive lineman Brigham DeVore said. “Now they’re all older, bigger, faster and stronger, which is making a big difference.”

In a surprising senior night victory, the Highlanders played their hearts out against a historically talented Mount Vernon team.

“For them to put a win together against a very good Mount Vernon team showed that this shouldn’t be a surprise anymore. This should be the norm, and it really set the standard. That made me very proud. The players made it a great day, especially the seniors,” Scholla said.

After falling to Mount Vernon 45-12 last season, the team bounced back, winning 2814 over the Majors. This turnaround was a great way to start the season.

“Beating Mount Vernon week one was awesome because last year they killed us, and we had a pretty dominant win against them. [It made us realize] that we don’t just think we’re good. This is for real. We’re a good team,” DeVore said.

Continuing their successful breakout season, the Highlanders hosted Herndon for their homecoming game, shutting them out 49-0. The big win was indicative of the Highlanders’ progression as a team.

“My favorite memory of the season so far is seeing the change in our team from my freshman to senior year and finally putting together the version of McLean we always said we would,” Soltani said. “It’s great to finally see [success] come to reality after all the hard work we’ve done to achieve it.”

The Class of 2021 are the first group Scholla has coached from their freshman to senior years. Considering the sacrifices the seniors have made this year, Scholla found their progress on the field especially impressive.

“This shouldn’t surprise anyone anymore. I mean, trust me, we’ve gotten beaten up in the past. It has been a process of development with these guys,” Scholla said. “Everyone hears the chatter, and everyone’s down on McLean football, [but now] we’re turning the corner and everything’s going well.”

Even without their starting receivers, the Highlanders took home a win against Langley (and the Rotary Cup that comes with it) for the second year in a row. A monumental victory, this was the Highlanders’ first win at Langley since 1996.

“We won back to back, and I got to share that with the teammates and coaches that I love to play with,” Soltani said. “However, we most definitely could have played better—we expected it not to be that close of a game.”

McLean ended the season with a 4-3 record, but Scholla is hopeful about the future of the team and looking forward to seeing how the rivalry plays out in the coming years.

“Yeah, they’re the crosstown rival, but with the way our program is trending, I really believe the new norm will be McLean on that trophy a lot more than Langley,” Scholla said.

THE ACTION BEGINS — Nicky Varela

(#73) hikes the ball to his quarterback, Bijan Soltani (#14), during the team’s crosstown rivalry match-up on March 12. The Highlanders went on to beat Langley 16-7.