When it comes to talking about sophomore quarterback Roy Magana Jr., Marmion coach Adam Guerra struggles to keep his enthusiasm in check. And for good reason.
Magana has been the real deal for the Cadets.
“Roy took Marmion by storm last year and he’s been outstanding this year,” Guerra said, checking off the boxes. “The future is very bright with him.
“I haven’t had a freshman starter (at quarterback) ever until last year. And I haven’t had a sophomore starter like this.”
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Magana came out sharp again Friday night, completing three of his first five passes for touchdowns and finishing with four TDs as Marmion eased to a 48-14 win over De La Salle in a CCL/ESCC Red opener.
Magana was thrust into a starting role by necessity for four games last season when senior starter Kamron Tolliver was injured. Magana said that experience has helped him prepare for a full-time starter’s role this season.
Marmion quarterback Roy Magana Jr. (12) makes adjustments at the line against De La Salle during a CCL/ESCC Red opener in Aurora on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
Struggling De La Salle (0-4, 0-1) was no match as Magana rolled out to his right and connected with junior receiver Colin McEniry down the sideline for a 27-yard TD to cap a 69-yard drive on the first possession of the game for the Cadets (3-1, 1-0).
McEniry broke a tackle after making the catch and carried a defender into the end zone.
“Colin is fast enough, athletic enough and powerful enough to finish plays like we saw down there,” Guerra said. “And he ran a great route to get open.”
McEniry repeated that effort later in the first quarter, gathering in a 31-yard pass in the end zone from a scrambling Magana. In between, Marmion recovered a fumble by the punter and junior running back Henry Miller capitalized for a 2-yard TD run.
Marmion’s Colin McEniry (13) uses a stiff-arm for a TD catch against De La Salle during a CCL/ESCC Red opener in Aurora on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
“He’s pretty good,” McEniry said of Magana. “I see him getting recruited by some big colleges in the next few years, but I think his best trait, naturally, is his hard work.
“Every day in the offseason, he’d be texting us to go throw routes before school to build that connection. You see back-shoulder throws and stuff like that, and it’s from that kind of work.”
Magana later added TD passes of 47 and 28 yards to sophomore receiver Aidan Miller, who is no relation to Henry.
“But we are fast friends,” Aidan said. “Roy? Last year was our first year together, but we’ve been working really hard to get our connection down. That back-shoulder throw came on a broken play.
Marmion’s Joey Favia (11) punches in a short run for TD against De La Salle in the third quarter of a CCL/ESCC Red opener in Aurora on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
“Roy’s arm strength is really good, and really it’s his accuracy that stands out. It’s really pinpoint and the ball is always where it needs to be.”
As expected, Marmion scored on its first five possessions to open a 34-0 lead. William Wilde then followed with a 50-yard TD run and Joey Favia added a 10-yard TD run.
Wilde finished with 69 yards and Favia had 62 as a dinged-up Henry Miller, Marmion’s leading rusher, was limited to three carries, saving him for next week’s homecoming game against Montini.
So far for the Cadets? So good.
Marmion quarterback Roy Magana Jr. (12) rolls out of the pocket against De La Salle during a CCL/ESCC Red opener in Aurora on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
“I think we’re exceeding a lot of people’s standards and I think those standards for us are too low,” McEniry said. “I think we have a lot of potential. We go into a lot of games as underdogs from people outside of us, but we think we’re pretty solid.”
And for that, Guerra pointed to the leadership from a young Magana.
“You may have seen him putting running backs in the right spot (Friday) as a sophomore,” Guerra said. “He’s really grown into the offense and understands the plays and protections well.
“He works hard in the weight room, hard at practice and you can see the athleticism, see the arm talent. He’s fearless, which is great, being a part of that. He’s special and we’re lucky,”
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