“I’ve told these kids from day one, I love every single one of them,” said first-year head coach Cody Bupp after visiting General McLane’s 48-7 win over the Dragons on Friday. “Wish I could have gotten them a win. But I’m really proud of those seniors. They never folded. They continued to be leaders. They continued to have character. There’s a lot of lessons I hope the younger kids learn from that group.”

It’s a senior class that won five games in each of their first three seasons as Dragons before this season’s 0-10 finish. General McLane, playing for a District 10 3A playoff berth, improved to 6-4 with its third straight win.

GM quarterback Isaac Dietz threw three first-half touchdowns, and senior running back Magnus Lloyd rushed for over 200 yards in the game as the Lancers had over 400 yards of offense to Warren’s 127.

Still, Bupp sees what can be gained from this season.

Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Warren senior Matt Sowa tries to free from a General McLane tackler in the Dragons’ 48-7 loss on Friday to the Lancers at War Memorial Field.

“What you’re made of, your mettle inside, is going to carry you in life,” he said. “Obviously, we didn’t have the season we wanted to, but the torch is passed to that younger group. These experiences are going to help, and it’s tough to tell that younger group that right now, but it’s coming. Games like this, you remember those. I saw a lot of building, not only on the field, but also off the field.”

General McLane 14 14 7 13 — 48

Warren 0 0 0 7 — 7

First quarter

GM–Jacob Zietz 15 pass from Isaac Zietz, 6:23 (Cooper Robson kick)

GM–Caiden Holler 10 pass from Isaac Zietz, 3:14 (Robson kick)

Second quarter

GM–Magnus Lloyd 18 run, 9:09 (Robson kick)

GM–Robson 11 pass from Isaac Zietz, 5:03 (Robson kick)

Third quarter

GM–Isaac Zietz 5 run, 7:41 (Robson kick)

Fourth quarter

W–Tommy Nyquist 4 pass from Eric Dippold, 9:03 (Charlie Blum kick)

GM–Lloyd 71 run, 8:30 (Robson kick)

GM–PJ Mitchell 30 pass from Matt Caro, 0:59.9 (kick fails)

Individual stats

RUSH: GM–Lloyd 16-212, 2TD; Robson 3-4; Ian Salisbury 3-11; Isaac Zietz 2-8, TD. W–Nyquist 26-84; Dippold 7-(-27); Ethan Ringer 3-14; Johnny Corbett 3-8; Matt Sowa 1-0.

PASS: GM–Isaac Zietz 7 of 10 for 134 yards, 3TD; Caro 2 of 2 for 33 yards, TD. W–Dippold 6 of 11 for 48 yards, TD.

RECEIVE: GM–Jacob Zietz 4-75, TD; Jared Corwin 1-38; Mitchell 1-30, TD; Robson 1-11, TD; Holler 1-10, TD; Lane Marquis 1-3. W–Chris Orth 3-20; Nyquist 2-6; Corbett 1-22.