McQueen Lancers Season Preview

McQueen Lancers Season Preview

Updated: Aug. 11, 2024

By: J. Ray Dockter

We are just under one week away from the start of the high school football season in the Silver State and I couldn't be more excited. Over the next few weeks, I'll be previewing many teams from our local area as well as a few other surprises, before getting into football season full swing on Aug. 16th when the first games kickoff. Today's team: McQueen.

McQueen Lancers

Head Coach: Matt Marner, Third Season at McQueen (7-15 overall, 3-8 league in two seasons at McQueen)

2023 Season Record: 4-8 overall, 1-4 league

Overview:

After two less than stellar season for 'The Academy on The Hill,' The Lancers look to prove themselves once again this season and have a return to glory.

Last season did not go how the Lancers had expected with Marner stating "[we] left a lot of game out there last season, we left too much meat on the bone, and we are not happy with what happened the last two years."

During the offseason the Lancers didn't have any big philosophy changes, Marner stated that him and his coaching staff "spent more time teaching, the best coaches are great teachers, and we changed some terminology to simplify things, but no major changes were made."

Entering his third season at the helm Coach Marner has high expectations because results haven't been up to McQueen's standards as of late. They are a team that is on the upswing. The expectation for McQueen this season is to "be competitive, finish all our games - we can't let games get away from us. We must be physical, take care of the football and finish tight games." The Lancers strength is in "their cohesiveness this season, they like each other, they've spent a lot of time together. We've spent a lot of time developing these men, they are smarter football players, they have a strong belief in the guy next to them." Marner continued on stating "We have 'Lancer Pride,' we are a family, we have discipline and accountability. We are not satisfied; we'll be better this year."

This season you can expect the Lancers to take the field with quite a few returners. This includes four offensively where Marner stated that his squad will "continue to run the RPO (Run Pass Option) on offense" because "[we] still believe that it puts the defense in conflict and that will dictate tempo, this offense gives us an advantage." The biggest worry for the Lancers is that they'll be breaking in their fifth consecutive new starting quarterback in as many seasons and they "lack experience at key positions."

Defensively the Lancers will return six starters from last year's team, and they will continue to use 3-3-stack variations as their base defense to mix up coverages and blitzers for their opponents. Coach Marner said that he feels "very fondly of this group of kids that he is coaching at McQueen," a place that he has been at for 18 seasons.

The key to McQueen's success this season will be "discipline, and accountability - [we will] run into teams that don't commit penalties or make mistakes very often. Most often to win games it comes down to this... be physical, win in the trenches and win the turnover battle."

Players to Watch:

LB Sue Foe, Senior: Third year MLB that is expected to do big things for the Lancers this coming season. He was described as "the heartbeat of our defense," by Coach Marner.

WR/SS Alex Grush, Junior: Grush, whose father Paul was a standout at Yerington HS back in the day was described by Marner as "a dynamic, smart football player who we are really excited for."

C Jai Ramos, Sophomore: Ramos reminds me of former Lancer's mauler Justin Rickett. Marner described him as "[A] smart kid, that is respectful [off the field] but has a mean streak [once he gets] in between the lines."

WR/FS Alex Hancock, Senior: Hancock has taken a very interesting football journey in his time at McQueen. He began his freshman year on the offensive line starting at Center. His sophomore season he moved to Tight End, and last year he split time between Tight End and Wide Receiver (Z). Marner described him as "[A] long strider who is exciting when he gets the ball in his hands."

TE/LB Jaxson McAdara, Senior: Third year varsity player who Marner described as "[A] guiding light, [a] voice of our team who is experienced, very smart - an extension of our coaching staff on the field."

LG Leo Ullyot, Senior: A transfer (from Arizona) into McQueen prior to last season, Ullyot made his presence felt as he earned All-League honors last season during his first in the program. Marner described him as "great player, who bought into the McQueen way, upholds the standards and is an anchor on our offensive line."

RT/DE Trey Smith, Senior: Listed at 6-foot-4 and over 250 pounds Smith is a load and has good balance. He'll be a key component in the strength of these Lancers which happens to be along their offensive line. He wrestles at the National Level and Coach Marner previously stated "he is a man-child."

Season Schedule:

Aug. 16 vs. Hug

Aug. 23 at Union Mine (El Dorado, Calif.)

Aug. 30 vs. Foothill (Sacramento, Calif.)

Sep. 6 at Carson

Sep. 13 vs. North Valleys

Sep. 20 vs. Reed

Sep. 27 at Bishop Manogue

Oct. 4 vs. Douglas

Oct. 18 at Spanish Springs

Oct. 25 vs. Reno

J. Ray Dockter has been covering high school sports since 2022. If you have a story worth telling, let him know via Twitter @J_RayDoc.