After McLean went 5-5 in 2014, four losing seasons followed. In McLean's 2016 season, the Highlanders' varsity team went 1–11, while their JV team was 2–10, and their freshmen team was 0–8. The varsity team's only win was against Fairfax High School (Fairfax, Virginia), which was the homecoming game. The Highlanders were up by 1 when Fairfax attempted a field goal within the last minute. A McLean player blocked the field goal and another McLean player, Amir McCormick, returned the ball for a touchdown, securing the 28-20 victory and handing McLean their only win of the season. This ending to the game was reported on multiple local news outlets as a miracle for McLean.