QB Magazine Athlete Feature
As the championship game played out, Marz Lopez was on the sideline praying.
He wasn’t asking for a certain result. He was praying for strength and paying close attention to what was happening in front of him. When the game ended, Marz had a Golden Empire championship ring, the favorite moment of his football career so far.
For the Class of 2032 quarterback from Bakersfield, California, that ring represents more than a title. It marks the moment he knew he had found where he belongs.
Marz has played football for seven years. He describes his career as following the legacy of Bakersfield athletes before him, and he hopes to add his own name to that tradition. When asked why he plays quarterback, he gave a two-part answer: to be the best he can be, and to leave a legacy.
His journey hasn’t been completely smooth. When Marz joined Bakersfield Central Football in the Golden Empire Youth Tackle Football League, he wasn’t sure he was ready. “I was doubtful in myself,” he said. Over time, his faith and the support of his coaches helped change that. “With faith and amazing coaches I feel like I am part of the family and ready to compete at the highest level.”
That sense of family comes up again and again when Marz talks about football. He credits Coach Mario with teaching him to love the game. He also credits the Golden Empire league with helping him believe that football is what he was meant to do. Joining Central and the league, he says, is where he has been learning to compete and truly love the game. He calls Central Football and Cheer “the best Bakersfield team,” and says he has found a home there.
Marz is also driven off the field. He trains himself using the lessons he picks up from coaches and camps. He has attended camps with QB Magazine and Left Coast, and he studies two quarterbacks in particular: Tom Brady and Derek Carr.
He also has a clear goal for the future. Marz hopes to play at Bakersfield High School for head coach Cody Stone. He says Coach Stone gives him confidence that he can one day compete with the best. His plan for now is simple: keep improving with Central and show that he’s ready for the next level when high school arrives.
“Building skill and faith and love for the game,” Marz said. “And finding a home at the best Bakersfield team that I love.”
Follow Marz: @QB1.marz.drip
A Bakersfield Story, Still Being Written
Marz wants to leave a legacy, and he’s still in junior high as he builds it. He has a Golden Empire ring, a youth team he calls family, and a goal of one day playing at Bakersfield High School. An upgraded QB Magazine membership gives him a way to share each step as it happens, starting now.
A feature article helps tell his story in full. Practice Squad includes one article each year, and Starter includes two. Marz has plenty to share: a sideline prayer during a championship game, finding confidence at Central, a coach who taught him to love football, and a clear hope for high school. Future articles can follow his eighth-grade season and his path toward the next level.
A custom graphic designed for him each month helps capture his biggest moments. That might be a win with Central, a strong throw, a camp milestone, or a moment that shows how far he has come since he first doubted himself. Each graphic gives his teammates, coaches, and the Central football family something to celebrate together.
Reposts help his story travel. Practice Squad includes two story reposts per month on X or Instagram. Starter includes four story reposts every week across both platforms, plus a monthly wall collab that appears on Marz’s page and QB Magazine’s at the same time. That introduces a young quarterback from the Golden Empire league to quarterbacks, coaches, and football families who follow QB Magazine nationwide.
Starter also includes extra benefits for a player who is still growing. Social media consulting can help @QB1.marz.drip reflect the faith, effort, and love for the game Marz talks about. Top 50 QB Mag Watchlist consideration gives him a chance to be featured among the quarterbacks QB Magazine is following. Priority for the QB Mag College Bus + Camps TOUR gives him an early look at college campuses. Both tiers include camp access, which gives a self-motivated player more chances to learn, just as he has at the QB Magazine and Left Coast camps.
These years matter. Everything shared through his membership during junior high will still be there when he reaches high school. People will be able to see how he developed, from a player who doubted himself to one who believes he’s ready to compete.
Marz talks about following the Bakersfield athletes who came before him. A membership helps preserve his own part of that tradition, from the championship ring and the sideline prayer to the team where he found a home.
More info: quarterbackmagazine.com/memberships