Following a Neumann tradition

At 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, Dylan McGill doesn’t quite follow in the same quarterback mold as returning Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow of Florida’s 6-3, 240 frame.

Don’t let that fool you though. The Bishop Neumann junior has established himself as another in a great line of quarterbacks for the Cavaliers. He follows the likes of Matt and Seth Turman, former Midland Lutheran starting quarterback Josh Lanik, current University of Nebraska-Omaha starter Zach Miller and current Briar Cliff quarterback Kyle Gerdes.

As a sophomore, McGill completed just over 50 percent of his passes for 1,337 yards and 10 touchdowns last fall.

“He’s kind of a natural; he has that instinct,” 28-year head coach Tim Turman said. “He has the ability to stay alive back there, avoid the sack and yet while he’s running around to still be able to see receivers down field and then be able to get the ball to them on the run 40-, 50-yards down field.”

In the Class C-1 championship game last year which Neumann lost 34-28 in overtime to Pierce, McGill gave a magical performance, throwing for 241 yards on 15 of 26 passing and one TD and ran for another.

Though McGill threw only an average of 10 passes per game in the Cavaliers’ option offense, Turman said he wasn’t surprised by the performance.

“He’s probably got as lively an arm as any quarterback here in a long, long time -- maybe ever,” Turman said. “As he gets older here I’m going to have to have him try to calm it down a little bit -- take a little off of it.

“He can throw it really pretty hard, has great range and has a quick release so he’s got everything you’re looking for.”

If given the choice, McGill said he would rather pass than run the ball but doesn’t mind his roll in the offense one bit.

“I like to pass better but I don’t mind this offense at all,” said McGill. “It sets up the passing offense; When teams are looking run, run, run they’ll come up on a play-action pass and it will go for a big gain or sometimes a touchdown.”

It was pretty easy running the ball, too. Especially behind Neumann’s line.

“We had a great line last year and they really helped us all out running the ball,” McGill said.

McGill racked up 668 yards rushing while fullback Keith Chvatal netted 652 and Tyler Benal ended with 1,329 yards.

McGill talked about being a quarterback in Neumann’s option offense with Gerdes while detassling corn last summer and spoke with Miller at a wedding this summer.

“It’s a great honor to be the starting quarterback here at Neumann with all the tradition,” McGill said. “I was excited just because I got to be the starter here as a sophomore and nervous because of the high expectations we had going into the season last year and trying to meet those expectations.”

The expectations are great again this year, but it’s something McGill said he is ready for.

Last season he was still learning on the fly and at times felt lost but has already seen a big difference this fall during two-a-day practices.

“There’d be times last year where it would be an easy read and then there were times where I didn’t really know what to do,” McGill said. “But this year it’s already come quicker and easier.

“The experience gained last year helped with that a lot because the game speed is just way different than when you try to simulate it in practice.”

The Cavaliers move from the practice field to the game field for the first time Friday night when they host Boys Town.