Krider's National Notebook

By Dave Krider

MaxPreps.com

Kentucky high school players continue to put up some astonishing numbers.

For example, Alex Matthews fired nine touchdown passes to tie the Kentucky state record as Shelbyville Shelby County rallied from a 56-39 deficit to nip Georgetown Scott County, 60-56. Matthews completed 30-of-52 passes overall for 497 yards. Jordan Burk tied the state record with six touchdown catches, good for 221 yards.

Paducah Lone Oak quarterback Corey Robinson not only is shattering Kentucky records, but now stands just four short of tying the national standard for touchdown passes in one season. He threw six touchdown passes in his latest effort, a 54-0 rout of Greenville Muhlenberg North, and finished 31-of-37 for 532 yards. That gives him a Kentucky-record 73 scoring passes this year. The national record is 77.

J.T. Britt of Vanceburg Lewis County set a Kentucky record with 99 catches this fall and tied another record with 19 catches in a single game.

More Football Notes

* Jack Elway's final high school football game was one he'd sooner forget. The son of Hall of Famer John Elway threw seven interceptions as Englewood Cherry Creek suffered a 35-7 loss to Aurora Grandview in the second round of Colorado's Class 5A playoffs. Shawn Tucker had three of the picks.

* In another Class 5A Colorado playoff game, Aurora Overland amassed 676 yards and 39 first downs - but still suffered a 51-45 loss to Denver East. There were only two punts in the entire game.Jermie Calhoun, who was switched from running back to quarterback early in the season due to an injury, completed his senior year at Van, Texas, with 1,908 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. Calhoun had a hand in seven touchdowns in his final game, but Van missed the playoffs.

* Turning to Nebraska, two Class B playoff records were shattered as Beatrice nipped Omaha Gross, 63-62, in overtime during the state quarterfinals. The record for total points in a game had been 81 and the record for most points in a losing cause had been 42. Ironically, the game-winner was a two-point conversion run (three yards) by junior wide receiver Justin Coleman after a fake kick.

* Mount Olive senior running back Jason McNair became the all-time career touchdown king in Mississippi with No. 119 during a 50-7 rout of Bogue Chitto. The 5-8, 180-pounder was carried on the shoulders of his teammates and purple and gold balloons were released to celebrate the occasion.

* St. Louis Christian Brothers College senior running back Rayon Simmons set a Missouri state record when he rushed for 533 yards during a 55-35 victory over Manchester Parkway South. The 5-9, 193-pound senior scored seven touchdowns and carried only 24 times. He finished the year with 2,447 yards on 220 carries (11.1 average) and 28 touchdowns. Meanwhile CBC coach Bob Shannon - who once had a national champion at East St. Louis, Ill. - resigned after 31 years in the profession.  

* Cuthbert Randolph-Clay senior Chris Clay ran for 450 yards in a 40-19 victory over Albany - the second-best effort in Georgia history. The record is 476 by Don Calloway of Colquitt Miller County in 1999. Clay finished the season with 2,022 yards on 250 carries. His career rushing total of 7,695 yards ranks third in Georgia history.

* Ansonia senior Alex Thomas set the Connecticut state record with 102 career touchdowns. He has rushed for 2,599 yards this year and 7,282 yards in his career. He is within striking range of several other state records.Switching to Virginia, Hampton forced six turnovers, had six sacks and blocked a punt en route to a 38-20 victory over Chesapeake Great Bridge in the Division 5 quarterfinals. Great Bridge quarterback Casey Turner set a Virginia record with 577 career completions. He also is No. 3 with 7,968 yards and No. 4 with 82 touchdown passes.

* Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) senior Dayne Crist, who is one of the nation's top quarterbacks, was injured in the second quarter of a 23-3 loss to Encino Crespi. He took a hard hit on a keeper and was sidelined for the rest of the game due to a headache.Pat Farrell has resigned as head coach at St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.). The 55-year-old coach compiled a career record of 234-86-2 with four Class 5A state championships.

Football Recruiting

* Nebraska's loss is Missouri's gain. Premier quarterback Blaine Gabbert of Parkway West (Ballwin, Mo.) has made a commitment to the University of Missouri after de-committing from Nebraska.Celina, Texas safety D'Anton Lynn (6-1, 177) has chosen Penn State over Oklahoma and Florida.Tennessee's No. 1 college prospect, 6-5, 270-pound senior offensive tackle Barrett Jones of Cordova Evangelical Christian, has made a commitment to the University of Alabama.

* Senior Kenny Miles made the most of his only year as a starting running back at Brookwood (Snellville, Ga.) by accepting a scholarship offer from the University of South Carolina. The 5-10 speedster, who bench presses 345 pounds, rushed for 2,137 yards this fall.The University of Connecticut has received a commitment from West Potomac (Alexandria, Va.) senior tackle Jimmy Bennett. The 6-8, 285-pounder has not allowed a sack during his career.

* Highly-rated Dr. Krop (Miami, Fla.) senior linebacker Etienne Sabino has made a commitment to Ohio State. The 6-3, 220-pounder combines hard hitting with 4.56 speed for 40 yards.Another Florida player, Miami Northwestern senior wide receiver Kendal Thompkins (5-11, 170), has made a commitment to the University of Miami.

Volleyball Notes

* Cincinnati reigns supreme in Ohio Division I ranks as Mother of Mercy defeated city foe Mount Notre Dame, 16-25, 25-12, 26-28, 25-19, 15-11, in a heated state-championship finale between two of the best in the USA. Senior Missy Harpenau left her mark with 27 kills for the 28-1 champs. Stephanie Vorherr added 16 kills and 22 digs, while Michelle James had 58 assists. Standout senior Rachael Adams paced the losers, who dealt Mercy its only loss, with 24 kills. Rachel Rohlfs had 44 assists and 20 digs.

* Elena Delle Donne is ranked as the No. 1 high school girls basketball player entering her senior year, but she obviously isn't too shabby on the volleyball court, either. The 6-5 senior had 16 kills and six blocks as Wilmington Ursuline Academy (22-2) defeated city foe St. Mark's, 20-25, 25-11, 25-13, 25-19, to win a record ninth Delaware state championship. Junior Mariah Henley added 15 kills, 25 digs and three blocks for the champs, while senior Meghan Bonk had 14 kills and 25 digs.

* Crystal Lake Central defeated Wheaton St. Francis, 25-19, 25-23, to win its first Illinois Class 3A state title and complete a perfect 42-0 campaign. The Tigers lost just one of 85 games while becoming only the tenth team in state history to go undefeated.

* Colorado also produced an unbeaten state champion as Aurora Grandview defeated Centennial Eaglecrest, 32-30, 20-25, 25-16, 25-21, to win the Class 5A crown and finish with a spotless 31-0 record. Senior Lauren Van Orden earned MVP honors with 27 kills and 20 assists. Setter Theresa Read had 33 assists, while 6-3 sophomore Erica Denney contributed 15 kills.

* Spokane Mead (35-1) defeated city foe Lewis & Clark, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, to capture its unprecedented fifth consecutive Class 4A state title in Washington. Montana recruit Emma Olgard, a 6-3 senior, had a match-high five blocks and added six kills for the champs. Her sister, 6-5 sophomore Alexis Olgard, had 13 kills and four blocks. The Panthers lost their first two games in the semifinals to Puyallup Rogers before storming back for a 3-2 victory.

* Turning to Minnesota, Shakopee (31-1) defeated Andover, 25-19, 25-9, 25-17, to win its first Class 3A state title. Maggie Geske set the pace with 17 kills and 18 digs, while Jessica Menden contributed 35 assists. Geske and Menden are the Sabers' only seniors. Shakopee, whose only loss was to No. 1-ranked Lakeville North, eliminated North in the state semifinals.

Basketball Notes

* Glory Johnson has decided to stay home and attend the University of Tennessee. A 6-3 senior at Knoxville Webb School, Johnson averaged 16.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.4 steals as a junior, leading Webb to its first state championship and earning Division II Miss Basketball honors. She also visited UCLA, North Carolina and Clemson.

* One of Colorado's top prospects, 5-10 Alyssa Fressle of two-time defending Class 5A state champion Highlands Ranch, has made a commitment to the University of Colorado.Senior Maggie Boyer poured in 40 points, including the game-winning three-pointer, as Lebanon, Ind., nipped Anderson, 64-63. She scored the game's last 10 points to overcome a nine-point deficit in the final three minutes.Five-foot-nine Skylar Diggins, one of the nation's premier juniors, blocked nine shots as Washington (South Bend, Ind.) defeated Fort Wayne South, 73-65.

* Notre Dame has received a commitment from 6-5 junior Joey Brooks, who averaged 17.1 points and 9.0 rebounds last year for Strake Jesuit (Houston, Texas).DeAngelo Casto, who left Ferris (Spokane, Wash.) for Seattle Franklin this fall, has returned to Ferris. The 6-8 senior averaged 14.8 points and 12.2 rebounds last year to help Ferris win the Class 4A state title.

Cross Country Notes

* Glastonbury, Conn., senior Donn Cabral repeated as New England champion with a time of 15:32.4 during the 73rd annual meet at Cumberland, Maine. Danbury, Conn., won the team title with 43 points. Lewiston, Maine senior Mohamed Noor, who had been unbeaten, led the race early, but finished 124th after a spectator allegedly threw sand in his eyes while he was running through a wooded area.

* Junior high athletes have been making waves on varsity teams in Kentucky for many years and this year is no different. For example, Pineville Bell County won the Class 2A state title behind the fourth-place finish of sixth grader Kelly Brown, who was clocked in 19:59.18.Danville eighth grader Kaitlin Snapp defended her Class A state title in a time of 18:58.45.In Class 3A, Louisville Sacred Heart freshman Emma Brink was the champion in a meet-record 18:20.52.

* In Arkansas, Rogers' boys captured their sixth consecutive and 15th overall state championship by winning Class 7A with a near-perfect score of 15 points. Senior Aaron Hamilton repeated his individual championship in a course-record time of 15:30. The Rogers girls also won their record 15th state title with 37 points.

Hockey Notes

* The U.S. Junior Select team outscored Russia, 9-6, to place third in the World Junior A Challenge Tournament in Trail, British Columbia, Canada. The Americans exploded for six third-period goals - two by Nick Dineen of Omaha, Neb. Earlier the U.S. defeated Belarus, 7-6 in overtime, and Canada East, 3-2 in overtime, while losing to Canada West, 5-1. Barry Almeida of Springfield, Mass., scored the game-winning goal against Belarus and led the U.S. with nine points in the tournament.

* The U.S. National Under-18 team finished with a 1-2 record during the Four Nations Tournament in Huttwill, Switzerland. The Americans defeated Finland, 6-5, in overtime as Jordan Schroeder of Prior Lake, Minn., collected a hat trick - including the winning goal - and two assists. The losses were to Sweden, 5-3, and to Switzerland, 2-1, in a shootout.

* The U.S. National Under-17 team was nipped by Russia, 2-1, in the championship game of the Four Nations Tournament in Dmitrov, Russia. Jeremy Morin of Auburn, N.Y., was named best forward and Cam Fowler of Farmington Hills, Mich., was named the best defenseman in the tournament. Earlier the Americans defeated Slovakia, 6-3, and Switzerland, 4-2. Zach Golembiewski of St. Claire, Mich., scored two goals against Switzerland.

* Anchorage Dimond handed city foe South its first loss in 50 games, 3-1. The three-time defending Alaska state champions were 46-0-3 since Jan. 8, 2006. Senior goalie Mickey Geraghty stopped 31 of 32 shots in a sterling performance. It marked the 297th victory for veteran Dimond coach Dennis Sorenson, who already is the state record holder in his 17th season.

Potpourri

* Marist (Atlanta, Ga.) senior swimmer Kathleen Hersey, who won four gold medals in last summer's Pan American games, has made a commitment to the University of Texas.Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) star Michelle McKeehan plans to attend the University of Georgia.Germantown Academy (Fort Washington, Pa.) standout Teresa Crippen, who has made Olympic Trials cuts in nine events, will attend the University of Florida.

* One of the nation's premier tennis players, Courtney Clayton, has made a commitment to Stanford. She trains at the Nick Saviano High Performance Tennis Academy in Sunrise, Fla..Phoenix Xavier won its 10th consecutive and 26th overall Arizona Class 5A Division I state girls golf championship. The champs were led by individual medallist Cheyenne Woods with a 36-hole score of 69-70-139.

* The Virginia Beach Cox girls field hockey team won a record 15th state title with a 6-0 rout of Falmouth Stafford. The 23-2 Falcons also set a state record for most goals in the finals since the tourney started in 1977. Cox outscored opponents, 37-2, in the tourney and, 109-10, for the entire season.