McGee’s arm throws curveball

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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