Finding a way to be successful while under immense pressure seems to be Justin Larson’s strength, whether it is on the football field for the Glynn Academy Red Terrors or in the classrooms of the sprawling campus, where he is in the top five percent of his class academically.
“Justin is one of the best students in our school,” says Glynn Academy principal, Dr. Scott Spence. “He has earned this distinction while taking Honors, Accelerated, and Advanced Placement courses. During his tenure at Glynn Academy, Justin has not only been an outstanding student but also a model citizen. We are all very extremely proud of his accomplishments.”
On the football field, Larson had to step up late last year. After serving as backup quarterback for Glynn Academy last season, he was tossed into the starting job when Zach Lamper went down with an injury in the first round of the state playoffs. Rather than shrink from the pressure, Larson met the challenge head on.
“I got the chance to help lead us to a win and further our playoff run,” Larson recalls.
His first big play was in that playoff game against the Drew Titans, when he tossed a 68-yard touchdown pass to start the Terrors’ comeback in a 35-34 overtime win. The following week, he led Glynn Academy to a second upset victory, this time over defending state champion Creekside 31-21. As the Terrors continued to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, Larson led them with his arm and legs until the eventual state champions, Northside (Warner Robins), ended their winning streak.
This season, as a senior, he has continued to lead the team, as he stepped into the starting quarterback position full-time. His first pass of the season was a 54-yard touchdown strike to Deejay Dallas; this was followed shortly after by a 31-yard touchdown pass to Garrison Hurd. He also led the Terrors to back-to-back victories to start the 2015 season, which included a 28-0 victory over rival Brunswick.
But Larson is more than the starting quarterback for Glynn Academy, he is also one of the school’s top students. Larson is the definition of a leader, both on and off the football field. He is an academic standout in the classroom, maintaining straight A’s. He holds a 4.2 grade point average and wants to earn a degree in mechanical engineering.
At 6’1″ and 190 pounds, Larson is also a member of the Red Terrors’ baseball team and may have to decide which sport he will play in college. Larson started playing football when he was 8 years old. “My first year playing quarterback was in the seventh grade for recreation league ball,” he recalls. “I can remember throwing a pass to a receiver in the end zone and it hitting him in the helmet and watching it bouncing to the ground.”
Larson is always quick to pass praise along to his teammates rather than take the glory for himself. His favorite part of playing football comes in the wake of a big play. “Running down field with my offensive linemen during a big play where one of our skill players has broken out for a touchdown.” The senior signal-caller has several weapons to help him offensively. Dallas lines up at receiver and running back, while bruising runner Garrison Hurd lines up beside Larson in the backfield.
He is also a student of the game, spending time away from school and practice to watch game and practice film. “Justin doesn’t have a lot of experience playing football, but he is such a cerebral player that he has been able to adjust by immersing himself in the study of the game,” says head coach Rocky Hidalgo.
SE-AA-1015-Larson
Academic Athlete
Justin Larson
Glynn Academy
(W) Rob Asbell
(P) Jeffrey Griffith
Stepping Up Big
