Amid Friday night’s heavy rains and McLean’s Homecoming festivities, McLean High School’s varsity football team powered ahead after a slow start to beat George C. Marshall High 24-21. 
Amid Friday night’s heavy rains and McLean’s Homecoming festivities, McLean High School’s varsity football team powered ahead after a slow start to beat George C. Marshall High 24-21.
The loss gave Marshall and its new head coach, Bill Lapthorn, the team’s seventh-straight loss this season. Lapthorn had been the Marshall varsity assistant coach since 2007 until this year.
The win padded the McLean Highlander’s season bringing their record to 5-2.
The loss came despite the Marshall Statesmen holding the Highlanders without a first down for 23 minutes, and to just 13 yards of offense for the first 11 plays.
In the last minutes of the first half, McLean senior quarterback Will Hecht connected on a 54-yard pass with senior tight end Jonathan Fremerman. The ball found its way to senior Highlander tailback Riley Beiro for a 23-yard touchdown pass. Junior Drew Hunt made the 23-yard field goal following a Statesmen fumble on the kickoff.
The Highlanders forced four Marshall turnovers, including two in the red-zone. McLean only lost possession of the ball once.
The win puts the Highlanders’ Liberty District record at 3-1.
The Highlanders’ performance underscores a turnaround from last year’s woes for the team, when they suffered a 10-game losing streak.
