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McKay, the quarterback for the Lions, has committed to Western Illinois to play football after high school. More importantly, he will be going for the academics.

He will major in computer science with a minor in business.

“I want to be a video game developer,� said McKay. “I definitely do like playing video games. My two favorites are Rainbow 6 Siege and Madden football. I’m pretty good.�

What kind of games will he develop?

“I’m probably more into sports games,� McKay said. “I’ll have a good spin on it if I make my own. Maybe I’ll remember some of plays and use them in a game.�

If that’s the case, McKay can choose one of many. He produced a plethora last fall when he helped Cardinal Ritter to an undefeated season and its first state championship.

The Lions roared to winning the Class 3 state championship with a 46-7 victory over Reeds Spring at Faurot Field. The triumph concluded a spotless 14-0 campaign.

“We expected nothing less than a state championship,� McKay said. “We felt that last April. We had 7 p.m. practices in the spring. Then morning practices in the summer. Then in school we worked. Winning state was what we were all about and we did it.�

It’s something McKay,Ìýthe No. 25 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown of the area’s top senior college football prospects, said he will remember forever.

“The feeling of winning state is unmatched. Being with the guys every day and seeing them smiling after we won was incredible,� McKay said. �We deserved it. That stadium is amazing. I wasn’t into on the way there, but as I started warming up I could feel it. It was a little cold, but it felt nice. We played so well.�

It all began for McKay when he took over the starter’s role late in his sophomore year, Lions coach Brennan Spain said.

“Last year was magical," Spain said. "Antwon’s a natural leader. He understands the offense just as good as I do and I installed it. He knows what we do on the field. He gets it all.

“He’s been playing this position all his life. Greatness is in him.�

McKay, who stands 6-foot-2 inches and weighs 174 pounds, finished his season with some gaudy statistics. He completed 99 of 170 passes for 1,654 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was intercepted four times.

He also rushed for two touchdowns.

“He can make every throw there is make on the field. With just a flick of the wrist, he can throw,� Spain said. “He can run. He’s real long with this legs. He’s a team player. A lot of kids in this day and age chase offers. Antwon doesn’t. He’s a team first player.�

McKay put in the work to be successful in 2022.

“I improved a lot last year,� McKay said. “I loved the season we had. We had a huge turnaround from my sophomore year. We all bought into the process (Spain) wanted. We worked and competed so hard during the week that Friday or Saturday when we played, it was easy. The best competition we had was throughout the week was ourselves.�

McKay credits working with quarterbacks coach Kurt Leopold with having a such solid season. They started at the beginning.

“My completion rate was higher and my viewpoint of the whole field was a lot better,� McKay said. “We started off developing my mechanics. I got to look at pictures and videos and they showed a huge difference in my throwing mechanics. He taught me the game from the neck up. What’s open and what’s not open.

“We did a lot of deep diving into the details of being the quarterback. There’s a lot more to it than people might think. He helped me understand the whole picture of being a quarterback. It’s amazing how much better I am.�

McKay uses his legs when necessary. He can keep a defense honest with his running ability. He throws a good deep ball. He has accuracy throwing in tight windows.

“Some people may not see it as a skill, but I understand pass protections,� McKay said. “My line takes care of me. I love my (offensive line). We’re all in the same class. I eat lunch with them. I them the out with assignments. It’s a great relationship.�

Being a team leader is important to McKay.

“I don’t like to brag, but people say I’ve got great leadership ability on the field and in the classroom,� McKay said. “It’s not hard. I try to keep everybody focused. I make sure everybody is bought in. I’m more of a leader if we are down and we need to pick things up. That’s when I step in.�

Spain appreciates McKay’s leadership abilities. The team respects him and follows him.

“He’s a natural leader. He’s the heartbeat of the team,� Spain said. “He’s the light switch. That’s definitely him. He’s vocal and he also does it by example. He does it all. I don’t have a bad thing to say about him.�

The Lions lost two players from the offense. Several defensive players graduated.

However, McKay is undeterred in his belief in Cardinal Ritter’s fortunes this fall.

“We've got guys who are ready to step up and fill their shoes,� McKay said. “I expect nothing less than another state championship and an undefeated season. But we will take it one week at a time. We know what we want to do and accomplish.�

For himself, McKay has some goals set. He wants to get more running touchdowns. He wants to throw for more than 2,000 yards.

“Winning comes with executing. We need to be on the same page,� McKay said. “I’m not going to focus too much on my yards and things. I just want the team to win.�

Spain expects no less. He likes McKay for setting lofty goals for the team for himself.

“He can top it and he can duplicate it,� Spain said. “He makes everything even better. He’s something. Right now, he’s just trying to put his team first to be successful. We will have a lot of younger guys stepping up this year. He will show how he can really lead this year.

“He wants these guys to go 14-0 and win state again. He doesn’t have anything to prove, but he wants to prove it to himself.�