Manning – Cameron McMillon well remembers the first hit he took as a 14-year-old freshman starting quarterback for Fairfield Central High School. It came last season in the Griffins’ season opener against Carvers Bay.
“I said, ‘Wow, I’m playing high school football,’ “ McMillon said.
McMillon also remembers quite well what happened after that first hit.
“That first game I was kind of nervous and then to throw five touchdowns. and for over 300 yards,” McMillon said. “I was kind of like, ‘Wow, I'm actually doing this.’ It felt good.”
McMillon completed 18 of 23 passes for 315 yards and the five touchdowns in a 62-14 victory. That was just the start of what would be a tremendous season. The 6-foot-2-inch, 187-pound.McMillon would go on to complete 194 of 327 passes for 3,319 yards and 33 touchdowns against just 10 interceptions while helping lead Fairfield Centra to a 9-4 record and to the third round of the AA state playoffs.
“It was really, honestly -- I'm trying to find the words to say -- it was mind-blowing, I would say,” McMillon said. “I say that because I wouldn't think I carried my team as far as I did as a freshman.”
Griffins head coach Demetrius Davis believes he has a very talented quarterback on his hands, not just with his skills but in the way he carries himself
“It's not very often that you get a freshman who leads the state in passing yards,” Davis said. “He won nine games, led us to the third round of the state playoffs and we lost to (eventual state champion) Abbeville. As a 14-year-old, that's pretty impressive.”
Now McMillon is back as a “seasoned” 15-year-old sophomore. Fairfield Central opens its season on Friday on the road, again against Carvers Bay. And McMillon thinks he is a better quarterback.
“I feel like I'm more mobile than I was,” he said. “I also feel like I'm a little more sound mechanically and with my footwork.”
Fairfield Central throws a lot of passes in the flats to get it to their athletes in space. McMillon does a good job in distributing the ball quickly, but he can also stand in the pocket and deliver the deep ball with accuracy as well.
As good as he was last season, McMillon said he now has a better understanding of what is coming his way in all aspects of being a quarterback. That could be a scary proposition for the Griffins’ opponents.
“The game really has slowed down a lot,” McMillon said. “The first game plan was kind of high-pitched, very speedy and whatnot. Now it has kind of slowed down, and I am able to read a defense better.”
McMillon has only one offer at this point, but it is a Football Bowl Subdivision School in Marshall of u . With another season like the first one, that offer list is sure to quickly grow.
“We're really excited to see what his sophomore campaign looks like,” Davis said. “If it looks like anything comparable to his first, we have a chance to be pretty good.”
McMillon does have his favorite target returning in junior Tydarion Grier. He had 73 catches for 1,110 yards and nine touchdowns. However, the Griffins have to find replacements for graduated Jai Boyd (48-1,076-10) and Donovan Watkins (38-633-7).
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