1A Six Man

Team Preview: McLean Tigers

by
Adam Ogburn
July 6

McLean Tigers

Head Coach: David Donnell (2^nd season)

2022 record: 7-3; 1-2 in district

McLean Key Players and Storylines

McLean played for back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019, but the Tigers haven’t been back to the playoffs since.

Last year was particularly agonizing as a 40-38 defeat to Miami was all that stood between the Tigers and a return to the postseason.

However, Head Coach David Donnell expects this year to be different as he expects his Tigers to compete for a district championship. They’ll be boosted by the return of three starters on offense and four on defense.

Chief among those returnees is linebacker Scott Caldwell, who was the leading tackler for the Tigers a year ago. Donnell also expects defensive linemen Jacob Hess (51 tackles) and Cruz Rodriguez (42 tackles) and linebacker Noah Dickey (31 tackles) to also play key roles after all three earned all-district honors a year ago.

On the other side of the ball, the Tigers have a plethora of options in the backfield with running backs Jack Magee and Wrangler Margrum and quarterback Caleb Steward. All three are in line to play bigger roles for the Tigers this season.

With important players back on both sides of the ball, expect McLean to be in playoff contention yet again this year in what should be a competitive district.