Marcus Benjamin @_benjaminmoney
“Everything happens for a reason and I know you’re going to come back stronger.” These were strong words voiced by speed coach Bill Welley to young quarterback Marco LoPesio, after suffering a back injury going into his sophomore year. The developing signal caller from Wayzata High School in Minnesota would miss the entire season due to the injury.
“Those words really stuck with me,” said LoPesio. “I felt like I let my team down and I felt like I let myself down after that time off, but I’m glad that I worked through it. It was a learning experience for me as a person and it was hard, but without that experience I don’t know if I would be where I am with how hard I work.”
The back pain started after LoPesio made a simple throw on a post route during the Crown College Passing League seven on seven tournament in Minnesota. Diagnosed initially as a sprain, LoPesio tried to play through the pain and finished the tournament. He later would get an MRI and it was found that Marco had a severe fracture in his back and the recovery time would be sixteen to eighteen weeks. LoPesio would be in a full body brace during the rehabilitation process.
“I still keep that brace in my room to let me know that I need to keep working and that I am lucky to be out here and have the opportunity to play quarterback.”
Handling adversity is something that every quarterback deals with on every snap. As commander of the offense, one surveys the field, analyzes the options and anticipates potential threats. All the while staying calm, poised and focused on the ultimate goal…winning.
LoPesio, now going into his senior season, has more than something to prove, he’s out to show the world that everything that he’s gone through has lead him to this moment.
“I feel like it molded me into the person that I am today. Letting me know that everything could just end just like that and it can all be over.”
The 6’0 175 pound quarterback will be going into his senior season looking to claim a state championship for his team. He started playing the position in the second grade and was coached by Joe Laurinaitis father of James Laurinaitis a Wayzata High alum who went on to play in the NFL. In the fourth grade, his father, a former walk on as a running back to the University of Minnesota, took over as his coach and his love for the game of football ascended to a new level.
“We would go over plays and draw up plays together with my dad. That’s when I started to fall in love with the game. Since the start I really grasped football. I would draw up plays at a young age to try to understand what works and what doesn’t against certain defenses. That’s really a passion of mine, understanding defenses and delivering the ball accurately and on time.”
LoPesio attended the Football Hotbed Future Four Camp in Florida right after middle school. He also attended the Arizona State University Camp where he was named most accurate passer. He earned runner up to the most accurate passer at the Football Hotbed All-American Combine in Scottsdale, AZ and at the Sound Mind Sound Body Super Bowl Combine MVP in Minnesota.
“Being down in Arizona and Florida exposed me to the hard work and what it would take for me to get to where I wanted to be. The experience was great to compete with the top quarterbacks around the country.”
He currently runs a pistol spread offense but also has experience in a pro style offense. The new offense, coached by Head Coach Lambert Brown, runs at a fast pace and he feels like the quick reads he makes will help elevate his mind for the next level. Minnesota State Moorehead is showing interest in the young talent as well as Drake University. Drake extended an invite to Marco for their spring game and junior day to be held April 21st on their campus.
“I’m looking forward to this season because I really believe we are contender for the state championship. Football is a privilege to play and I appreciate every second of it.”
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