John Marshall’s Kota Bonds (9) attempts to make a catch on Friday. 
University’s Donald Brandel (7) reacts after defeating John Marshall on Friday. 
University players celebrate after defeating John Marshall on Friday. 
University’s Jaeden Hammack (1) makes a tackle on Friday. 
University’s Jacob Spearen (9) breaks up a pass intended for John Marshall’s Zach Bishop (30) on Friday. 
University’s Logan Raber (30) rushes the ball against John Marshall on Friday. 
University’s Logan Raber (30) rushes the ball against John Marshall on Friday. 
John Marshall’s Justin Frohnapfel (1) rushes the ball against University on Friday. 
University’s head coach John Kelley talks with Joseph McBee (15) on Friday. 
University’s Donald Brandel (7) reacts after receiving a high snap for a touchdown on Friday. 
University’s Colin McBee (22) gets tackled by John Marshall’s Jace Boggs (33) on Friday. 
University’s Colin McBee (22) rushes the ball against John Marshall on Friday. 
University’s Seth Coombs (44) makes a tackle on John Marshall’s Alex Burton (27) on Friday. 
John Marshall’s Alex Burton (27) gets tackled by University’s Donald Brandel (7) on Friday. 
John Marshall’s Alex Burton (27) gets tackled by University’s Donald Brandel (7) on Friday. 
John Marshall’s Zach Bishop (30) rushes the ball against University on Friday. 
University’s Logan Raber (30) rushes the ball against John Marshall on Friday. 
University’s Joseph McBee (15) gets tackled by John Marshall’s Jace Boggs (33) on Friday. 
University’s Daminn Cunningham (25) returns a punt on Friday. 
University’s Daminn Cunningham (25) returns a punt on Friday. 
University’s Daminn Cunningham (25) returns a punt on Friday. 
University’s Daminn Cunningham (25) returns a punt on Friday. 
University’s Joseph Oliverio (55) attempts to block John Marshall’s Colby Cubick (69) on Friday. 
University’s Logan Raber (30) makes a tackle on John Marshall’s Ethan Gray (10) on Friday. 
University’s head coach John Kelley reacts to a play on Friday. 
John Marshall’s Derrick Derrow (2) rushes the ball against University on Friday. 
John Marshall linemen block University’s Logan Raber (30) and Corbin Turney (75) on Friday. 
University’s Joseph McBee (15) rushes the ball agaist John Marshall on Friday. 
John Marshall’s Justin Frohnapfel (1) makes a pass against University on Friday. 
John Marshall’s Derrick Derrow (2) slips the tackle by University’s Jacob Spearen (9) on Friday. 
John Marshall’s Derrick Derrow (2) rushes the ball against University on Friday. 
John Marshall’s Derrick Derrow (2) rushes the ball against University on Friday. 
University’s Corbin Turney (75) comes up with the fumble against John Marshall on Friday. 
John Marshall’s Jace Boggs (33) rushes the ball against University on Friday. 
University’s Colin McBee (22) with a pick six against John Marshall on Friday. 
University’s head coach John Kelley talks with his players on Friday. 
University’s Logan Raber (30) rushes the ball against John Marshall on Friday. 
University’s head coach John Kelley looks on during their game on Friday. 
University players take the field on Friday.
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — There was a big celebration planned at IHOP late Friday night, courtesy of Joseph and Colin McBee.
It was well deserved, too, as the brothers played crucial roles in University High’s 18-7 victory over John Marshall at Mylan Pharmaceuticals Stadium.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this football team,” UHS head coach John Kelley said. “We’re out there with a lot of young guys. We had three 14-year olds on our offensive line going up against men. I thought we would struggle a lot just to win a game.
“Our guys just refused to give in. They’re just going to keep getting better. I’m so proud of them.”
The McBee’s had their fingerprints all over the win, first with Colin returning an interception 70 yards in his first varsity game that gave the Hawks a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.
“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Joseph said. “Especially with everything he’s gone through just to get back on the field. Getting that pick-6 in his first varsity game, he looked pretty good running into the end zone.”
What Colin went through was coming back from a broken leg in a junior varsity game last season.
He broke his tibia and fibula — “He had them both snap in half,” Kelley said. — but rehabbed his way back in time to run on the school’s track team last spring and then got ready for football.
“It was just a lot of work,” Colin said. “I was in a cast for a few weeks and I didn’t like that very much. Then I had to wear a boot, which wasn’t much better, but at least I could walk in the boot.”
He said running track helped him prepare for football. It also helped him to win the foot race to the end zone.
“When I first started running, I kind of saw a someone right behind me,” Colin said. “I looked back later and didn’t see anyone. It was a great feeling.”
Joseph, too, has an interesting story.
The junior said he actually began this summer going to camps as a receiver.
“That’s pretty much what position I thought I was going to be playing,” he said.
He was a linebacker and receiver last season, even played some at offensive line in middle school.
That all changed when the UHS coaching staff called him a few months ago and told him to get ready to play quarterback.
“It kind of caught me off guard some,” Joseph said.
In his first start, he completed 4-of-9 passes for 49 yards and also scored on a 23-yard run with 5:37 left in the third quarter that gave the Hawks (1-0) a 12-7 lead they would not relinquish.
“The question about him is he a quarterback? I would say the answer to that is still a question mark,” Kelley said. “Is he a winner? I would have to say undoubtedly yes, he is a winner.”
The McBees also hooked up on a 27-yard completion — on third-and-21 — that kept a drive alive.
“I saw (Colin) break open across the middle and he got behind the linebacker,” Joseph said. “We’ve been throwing footballs to each other since we were kids. He made a great play there.”
University’s clinching score came a minute after McBee’s scoring run.
After forcing John Marshall (0-1) to punt, the snap went over the punter’s head and rolled into the end zone.
John Marshall’s punter, who had been running after the ball, stopped running and headed toward the sideline once the ball reached the end zone.
UHS linebacker Donald Brandel then pounced on the ball for the touchdown.
“Absolutely baffled by that play,” Kelley said. “I don’t know what he was thinking. I’m not sure anyone does. That was really the back-breaker right there.”
It was just one bizarre play in a game filled with plenty of weird moments.
John Marshall outgained the Hawks, 353-131, but UHS recorded two interceptions and recovered three fumbles and also came up with a fourth-down stop on the first play of the fourth quarter, after the Monarchs had driven to the UHS 5.
All of it set up a good McBee family celebration.
“Yeah, we’re probably going to IHOP,” Joseph said. “That’s the best way to celebrate a good win.”
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