HS Football Player Spotlight: Record-setting Marana QB Colten Meyer becomes Mr. 8,000

Every week this high school football season, in collaboration with ESPN Tucson’s weekday morning show “Spears & Ali,” we’re spotlighting notable performances from the previous week. Up next: Marana senior quarterback Colten Meyer.

When it’s all said and done, Marana Tigers quarterback Colten Meyer will arguably go down as the best player in Marana history — and that’s saying something considering MHS has produced multiple NFL players in Paul Robinson and Jordan Morgan.

Meyer’s personal success, coupled with Marana’s success as a program with Meyer at quarterback, makes it a compelling conversation.

Meyer is just the third quarterback in Southern Arizona history to eclipse 8,000 career passing yards, joining Sabino’s Cameron Hackworth (8,797) and Catalina Foothills’ Rhett Rodriguez (8,694). Meyer also recently became Marana’s all-time passing yards leader, passing Trenton Bourguet (Meyer’s cousin), who set the record in 2018.

Meyer has 8,069 yards after completing 34 of 45 passes (75.6%) for 439 yards and six touchdowns in a 48-20 win over Mountain View last Friday. Meyer’s touchdown passes against Mountain View — a rivalry known as “Battle of the Boot” — marked a single-game career-high.

“They’ve been winning the boot, so we had to win it for our last year and we got it done,” Meyer said of Marana’s win over Mountain View.

With Meyer under center, the Tigers are 18-2 since last season and have an appearance in the Open Division playoffs.

Since Marana’s season-opening loss to Salpointe Catholic this year, the Tigers have won eight straight games and are ranked No. 18 in Arizona and the fifth-best Class 5A team in the state, according to MaxPreps.com.

“The team is buzzing right now,” Meyer said. “We just gotta keep the momentum going and go on to the next game.”

Marana (8-1) is spending Halloween on the road to wrap up the regular season. The Tigers face Vista Grande (3-6) in Casa Grande on Friday.

Ahead of Marana’s regular-season finale and final tune-up before the postseason, Meyer joined “Spears & Ali” on ESPN Tucson to reflect on his historic season and answer a few Halloween-related questions.

What has led to another successful season for Marana?

A: “We’ve honed in on the little things. We’ve been pushing and having great practices. Practice makes perfect. We’ve been killing it on the practice field and it translates to the playing field.”

How does it feel to be the only quarterback in Marana history to reach 8,000 career passing yards?

A: “It’s amazing. Staying at Marana all four years and only starting for 2½ years, passing that 8,000 mark is a great honor.”

How did it feel to pass Bourguet for most passing yards in Marana history?

A: “It was crazy. It was the last drive and my brother (Clayton Meyer) is a receiver, so I threw it to my brother. It was amazing to watch.”

What has led to your personal success as a quarterback?

A: “Coaching and the mindset that I carry into each game. I just love it. I love playing football. When you love a game, it pays back in a big way.”

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Marana sophomore running back Jeffrey Smith III was a player we featured a few weeks ago. How has his skill set opened up the offense?

A: “It’s great having Jeffrey Smith, a great running back. When you can run the ball, it opens up the pass game. It’s always amazing having a great running back to support the pass game.”

Who are your go-to pass catchers this season?

A: “All my years here, I’ve had Sean Roebuck. That’s been a great connection. We just keep killing it week in and week out. We also have Jaxsun Sharp, he’s killing it right now, he’s at 600 yards right now. We also have my brother and a guy named Remy (McKinnon). Those are my go-to targets.”

Who’s a quarterback that you often study?

A: “I’ll say (Houston Texans quarterback) CJ Stroud. He’s one of those guys that can push the ball downfield and make plays happen with his feet.”

How about fictional quarterback Chad Powers on Hulu?

A: “I don’t watch no Chad Powers (laughs).”

Since it’s Halloween this week, what’s your favorite Halloween candy? Do you have a Top 5?

A: “I gotta say Snickers. Top 5, I’ll go Snickers, Reese’s, Starburst, Skittles and Sour Patch Kids.”

What was your favorite Halloween costume growing up?

A: “Probably dressing up as a football player with big ol’ shoulder pads that don’t even fit me.”

Who was your favorite football player to dress up as?

A: “My favorite one is probably (Pittsburgh Steelers legend) Troy Polamalu.”

As you prepare for the postseason, what is the team’s mindset?

A: “Our mindset is to stay focused. We’ve been doing this for 10 weeks — even longer than that, since the offseason. We just gotta stay focused and go into these last few weeks (focused) and it’s going to help us get to the championship.”

What’s similar or different about this year’s Marana team compared to last season?

A: “I would say this team has a great bond. This senior class, we’ve all been playing since middle school, so we’re brothers and we embrace each other every practice, every game. It’s great.”