High school football: Top single-game rushing total every year since 1947

When Adam Nunes of South Park (Buffalo, N.Y.) rushed for 593 yards in a 58-28 win over Iroquois (Elma) in mid-September, he not only broke the state record for rushing yards in a single game, he also posted the highest single-game total for the entire nation for the 2024 season. In fact, he posted the highest single-game total since 2018.

Nunes becomes the latest entry on our list of the highest single-game rushing totals for each season since 1947. The list includes some impressive totals over the years, including the national record of 722 yards by Journey Brown of Meadville (Pa.) in 2015, the first 600-yard rushing performance in high school history by John Bunch of Elkins (Ark.) in 1974 and a pair of entries by John Gianantonio of Netcong (N.J.) in 1950 and 1951.

Here's a look at a few names from the list.

Journey Brown, Meadville: Brown's 722-yard performance in 2015 came in one of the wildest games in high school football history. The Bulldogs defeated DuBois 107-90 with Brown scoring 10 touchdowns. The longest run was a 94-yard romp and he averaged 25 yards a carry.

Paul McCoy, Matewan (W.Va.): When McCoy rushed for a state record 661 yards in 2006, the mark was thought to be a new national record. However, Doug Huff, one of the premier high school sports historians in the nation and a native of West Virginia, pointed out that Gianantonio held the record with 739 yards in 1950. Except that wasn't completely true. Research by Bob Shwalb of the Morristown Daily Record in 2000 had proven that the 739-yard total was actually all-purpose yards, not rushing yards. Thus McCoy did actually set a national record, until it was broken by Brown.

Ryan Knight, Rubidoux (Jurupa Valley, Calif.): No running back in the nation had rushed for over 500 yards in a game for over four years until Knight put up 501 in 1983. It could have been a lot more. According to the Los Angeles Times, Knight had nearly 125 yards erased by penalty. Knight broke the state record of 476 yards by Larry Chacon and it stayed that way until David Dotson of Valley View (Moreno Valley) passed Knight in 1991 with 507 yards.

John Bunch, Elkins: No high school running back had gone for 500 yards since 1956 when Bob Ferguson of Troy (Ohio) rushed for 529. Bunch smashed the record with 608 yards in 1974. Bunch had 292 yards by halftime when Elkins led Winslow 50-0. In the second half, Bunch had several long runs, only to step out of bounds and set up a field goal attempt to keep the score down. Bunch carried on a sweep to the right on nearly every one of his 38 carries. Elkins' coach didn't have much of a choice but to keep him in the game since only 12 players were suited up.

John Gianantonio, Netcong, 514 yards in 1951. We've already mentioned that Gianantonio's 739 yards, which is listed in the NFHS record book, is an all-purpose total and not a rushing total. But Gianantonio did have the nation's top rushing total in 1950 and 1951. In 1950, he had 336 yards on just his touchdown runs. His exact total is unknown but he did reportedly have over 500 yards rushing. In 1951, the Daily Record reported that Gianantonio rushed for 514 yards in a win over North Hunterdon.

Gusty Creazzo, Massena (N.Y.): As a sophomore on the Massena varsity, Creazzo was not a very good receiver. In fact he was listed as the sixth-team receiver for the Raiders. However, head coach Pete Dugan thought maybe Creazzo could play running back. So he played him against Potsdam and all Creazzo did was score on runs of 75, 54 and 31 yards and gained 394 yards rushing - the highest total in the nation for 1947.

The list begins in 1947 since rushing totals were rarely reported in newspapers prior to that year, making choosing a national leader difficult. Assorted seasons prior to 1947 are included with verifiable high rushing totals. Top single-game rushing totals since 1947
2023 — 508, Kaegan Ash, Mt. Enterprise (Texas)
2022 — 518, Dylan Lee, Williams Field (Gilbert, Ariz.)
2021 — 539, Donovan Shepard, Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.)
2020 — 533, Lakin Farmer, Halstead (Kan.)
2019 — 554, Emmanuel Abdallah, China Spring (Texas)
2018 — 619, Joshua Jones, Berwick (La.)
2017 — 599, Matt Gadek, McKinney (Texas)
2016 — 584, Joe Benedict, Sandy Creek (N.Y.)
2015 — 722, Journey Brown, Meadville (Pa.)
2014 — 553, Daniel Quin, Sand Creek (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
2013 — 581, Chase Van Schoyck, North Central (Farmersburg, Ind.)
2012 — 659, Tanner Wood, Conway Springs (Kan.)
2011 — 540, Tyrone Swoopes, Whitewright (Texas)
2010 — 584, JJ Jude, Johnson Central (Paintsville, Ky.)
2009 — 444, Larry Walls, White Hall (Ark.)
2008 — 503, Kennon Holder, Huntingdon (Tenn.)
2007 — 569, Dale Ross, Westhill (Syracuse, N.Y.)
2006 — 661, Paul McCoy, Matewan now Mingo Central (Matewan, W.Va.)
2005 — 488, Stephen Blose, Harbor Creek (Harborcreek, Pa.)
2004 — 533, Mike Kanellis, Spanish Springs (Sparks, Nev.)
2003 — 531, Tony Dixon, Parrish (Ala.)
2002 — 508, Brandon Willard, Farmington (Conn.)
2001 — 574, Monquantae Gibson, Moore (Louisville, Ky.)
2000 — 517, Torey Staten, D'Iberville (Miss.)
1999 — 584, Leonard Jones, Montbello (Denver, Colo.)
1998 — 587, Darryl Ellis, Somerville (Texas)
1997 — 486, Jeremy Britt, Warren East (Bowling Green, Ky.)
1996 — 593, DeAndre Hooper, Austin College and Career Academy (Chicago, Ill.)
1995 — 619, Rooney Jenkins, Hueneme (Oxnard, Calif.)
1994 — 462, Thomas Jones, Powell Valley (Big Stone Gap, Va.)
1993 — 445, Marcus Welch, Westhill (Syracuse, N.Y.)
1992 — 478, Curtis Alexander, Whitehaven (Memphis, Tenn.)
1991 — 517, Cleon Williams, Boling (Texas)
1990 — 529, Dwain Koscielniak, St. Mary Cathedral (Gaylord, Mich.)
1989 — 426, Andre Session, Jefferson (El Paso, Texas)
1988 — 481, Larry Boyd, Union Hill (Gilmer, Texas)
1987 — 434, Michael Franklin, Carver (Atlanta, Ga.)
1986 — 564, Cory Davis, South Park (Fairplay, Colo.)
1985 — 476, Ronnie Ashmore, Edgewood (Texas)
1984 — 423, Keith Henderson, Cartersville (Ga.)
1983 — 501, Ryan Knight, Rubidoux (Jurupa Valley, Calif.)
1982 — 441, Greg Baker, Springboro (Ohio)
1981 — 401, Bobby Crumpler, Hobbton (Newton Grove, N.C.)
1980 — 428, Tracy White, Tahoka (Texas)
1979 — 439, Vincent Clark, Darby Township (Pa.) now Academy Park (Sharon Hill, Pa.)
1978 — 599, Rudy Rudison, Marian (Houston, Texas) *
1977 — 380, Dave Watovick, Fullerton (Neb.)
1976 — 476, Larry Chacon, Notre Dame (Riverside, Calif.)
1975 — 448, Craig Johnston, Whittier Christian (La Habra, Calif.)
1974 — 608, John Bunch, Elkins (Ark.)
1973 — 472, Thomas Walker, Fulton County (Hickman, Ky.)
1972 — 431, Eugene Campbell, Audubon (Iowa)
1971 — 459, Chris DeHart, Big Valley (Bieber, Calif.)
1970 — 376, Dan Fearing, Weston (Cazenovia, Wis.)
1969 — 427, Larry Beck, Swain County (Bryson City, N.C.)
1968 — 430, Eddie Byrge, Huntsville (Tenn.) now Scott (Huntsville, Tenn.)
1967 — 449, Ed Clark, Appalachia (Va.)
1966 — 447, Stan Brown, Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond, Calif.)
1965 — 445, Tom Benedict, Caledonia (Mich.)
1964 — 337, Barry Aycock, South Stanly (Norwood, N.C.)
1963 — 327, Herbie Phelps, My Old Kentucky Home (Ky.) *
1962 — 400, Jim Baier, Elmwood (Wis.)
1961 — 401, Jim Baier, Elmwood
1960 — 405, Tom Williams, Calvert (Tiffin, Ohio)
1959 — 345, Dick Warren, Morrice (Mich.)
1958 — 434, Kent Phillips, Morgan (Utah)
1957 — 410, Ken Knowles, Holliday (Texas)
1956 — 529, Bob Ferguson, Troy (Ohio)
1955 — 370, Ken Blandford, Shawnee (Ill.)
1954 — 455, Don Larson, Alden (Iowa)
1953 — 520, Kenneth Hall, Sugar Land (Texas)
1952 — 400, Buddy Kellar, Smithville (Texas)
1951 — 514, John Giannantonio, Netcong (N.J.)
1950 — 336, John Giannantonio, Netcong **
1949 — 338, Max McGee, White Oak (Texas)
1948 — 477, Jack Keisling, Livingston Academy (Livingston, Tenn.)
1947 — 394, Gusty Creazzo, Massena (N.Y.)

Other years
1939 — 528, Joe Golding, Eufaula (Okla.)
1937 — 413, Burdell Gilleard, New London (Iowa)
1936 — 451, Bubby Natowich, Ansonia (Conn.)
1934 — 317, Dick Todd, Crowell (Texas)
1929 — 527, Francis Tallent, Menominee (Mich.)
1928 — 520, W.C. Dixie Roberts, Warren County (McMinnville, Tenn.)
1922 — 338, John "Booty" Johnson, Waco (Texas)