McGee’s arm throws curveball

AOW/Jamie McGee of Sage HillSophomore quarterback’s effectiveness throwing ball means teams can’t key on Sage Hill’s running game.For the first four games this season, Sage Hill School quarterback Jamie McGee’s pre-snap read didn’t involve deciphering coverages as much as trying to confirm their existence.

With the Lightning (5-0), ranked No. 8 in CIF Southern Section Division XIII, having controlled, arguably dominated, opponents with their running game, opposing defenses brought more and more defenders closer to the line of scrimmage, in an attempt to limit the run.

And while these exaggerated schemes were designed to challenge Sage’s ground attack, they also demonstrated a brazen indifference to Sage’s proficiency with the pass.

McGee’s performance in Friday’s 47-6 nonleague win over visiting Twin Pines, however, might have thrown a wrench -- perhaps more correctly, a speeding spiral -- into such thinking.

McGee, a sophomore two-year starter, completed 16 of 25 passes for a career-high 236 yards and three touchdowns against the Bobcats. He also carried twice for 17 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown.

“Once teams see the film of that game, I have no doubt they’ll have to start getting out of packing eight guys in the box,” Sage Coach Tom Monarch said. “Teams have been loading up against our run, so we had to show them we were not one-dimensional. The kind of game Jamie had was the best thing for us, because it should now alleviate some of the pressure on our running game.”

So anxious is Monarch for future opponents to see evidence of McGee’s passing skills, he said he would like to assist in the delivery of the videotape of the Twin Pines game.

“I would be happy to air-mail it to them,” Monarch quipped.

McGee’s breakthrough performance coincided with the installation of a spread offense, which allowed him to operate primarily out of the shotgun formation.

“We just put that in heading into the Twin Pines game,” said McGee, who admitted not having to drop into the pocket gave him more time to see his receivers and choose the target most open.

“The shotgun relieves some pressure and it gives you a better look at the defense,” said McGee, who is now 36 of 69 this season for 598 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has thrown only one interception.

Monarch believes McGee, who arrived at the school an exceptional athlete -- he was a varsity standout in basketball and volleyball after starting all season at quarterback as a freshman -- is developing the intangibles that go into making a quality quarterback.

“As coaches, we’ve always believed he had the potential to be an outstanding quarterback,” Monarch said. “But our plan was to have him progress with baby steps and mature into that role.”

McGee said he was, at times, intimidated last season. But with the aide of a solid offensive line and quarterback coach and co-offensive coordinator Brad Gossen, a former starting quarterback at Washington State, as well as an extended recovery from a debilitating case of mononucleosis that slowed him all summer, he is just now starting to find a comfort level often reached only by seniors.

“Brad was close to a pro player himself and he has flat-out told me that Jamie is better than he was as a sophomore,” Monarch said. “[McGee] is a gifted athlete with a very good arm. If he continues to work on the mental side of the game and can put that together with his physical attributes, then he has endless potential.”

Gossen has also altered McGee’s throwing motion to eliminate what McGee called a hitch.

McGee said he is thankful to have an increased role in the team’s success, a role that also includes periodic stints at safety.

“Being a quarterback, I love to throw,” McGee said. “But I’ll do whatever it takes for us to win games.”

JAMIE McGEE

Born: July 25, 1989

Hometown: Newport Beach

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 175

Sport: Football

Positions: Quarterback, safety

Coach: Tom Monarch

Favorite food: Steak

Favorite movie: “Caddyshack”

Favorite athletic moment: “Throwing [a career-high] three touchdowns against Twin Pines Friday night.”

Week in review: He completed 16 of 25 passes for a career-high 236 yards, including touchdowns of 48, 27 and 34 yards in a 52-8 nonleague win over visiting Twin Pines Friday. He also ran for 17 yards and one touchdown as the Lightning improved to 5-0.

Daily Pilot

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