Offensive schemes leading to short-lived records in Arizona high school football

Video: Ethan Johnson shatters Arizona single-game rushing record

The way offensive numbers are climbing, it seems like no record is out of reach.

When Mason Crossland of Higley (Gilbert) went 23-for-31, tying a state record with nine touchdown passes and setting a state record with 641 passing yards in a 95-75 defeat of Apache Junction on Oct. 10, 2014, it seemed a pretty safe bet that he'd have his name in the Arizona record book for quite some time, if not forever.

Or not.

It didn't even last a year, as Washington (Phoenix) quarterback Mario Armendarez passed for 756 yards and 10 touchdowns – both 11-man Arizona records – on Sept. 18 of this year in a 94-76 loss to Agua Fria.

"We got to enjoy it for a little while," Higley coach Eddy Zubey said. "Nothing is safe anymore."

Some of the offensive records that have been achieved in recent years are seemingly unbreakable. At least until this week, or maybe all the way to next season.

Sean Fitzsimmons of Empire (Tucson) found that out on Friday, as his record for rushing yards in a single game of 516 went by the wayside when Ethan Johnson of Westwood (Mesa) went for 566 in a win over Higley. Much like the Knights' defenders, Johnson blew past the big-school record of 380 yards rushing set in 2008 by Jeremiah Cornist of La Jolla.

He did it on 38 carries, including seven of 30 or more yards, with seven touchdowns in the 46-41 win for Westwood, its first of the season.

"I was tired on the sidelines but we had to get that win and the adrenaline took over," said Johnson, who said he played for his best friend, Gunner Reidhead, who tore his ACL the week before. "I'd come out on defense (he plays outside linebacker) and coach (Jim Ewan) would ask if I was ready to go back in and I'd strap (the chinstrap) and go back in on offense."

On the same night Johnson set his mark, Desert Edge (Goodyear) set an Arizona record by rushing for 728 yards in an 83-27 win over Agua Fria to break the 11-man record of 641 set by Miami in 1955. Four different players, including Rocky Perez (205 yards on seven carries), broke 100 yards.

"I'm really happy with how we were able to spread the ball around to so many kids and let the bigs open up some running lanes," Desert Edge coach Rich Wellbrock told the Arizona Republic.

Even Mr. 566 was impressed.

"I thought I had a night, but that's incredible," Johnson said.

Incredible but not infrequent anymore.

So what is happening to cause records tumbling down so much in recent years? Is it the fact that spread, read-option offenses are completely outscheming defenses, or maybe all the top athletes are being pulled to the offensive side?

Or is it simply opportunity?

"I think the no-huddle systems are a big reason," Zubey said. "When I ran a more traditional offense, we'd run 55 to 60 plays a game, but now with the no-huddle the average is 72 to 75. That's 15 to 20 more opportunities to score."

It also has the defense on the field longer with little chance to substitute. It's why scores like Mountain View 66, Highland 65 can happen as defenses wear down.

Zubey thinks part of the deal is most kids come into a program these days with an offensive mindset.

"A kid would rather be a backup slot receiver than a starting cornerback," he said. "I see it all the time. They've played a certain position so you put them on defense and risk not getting a full effort cause they don't want to be there.

"It's the way it is. Maybe I'm wrong, but if I have a roster of 50 kids I should be able to find 11 guys to play defense."

Then again, the Higley defense gave up Johnson's big night while Westwood uses a traditional power running game, overloading a side of the formation with an unbalanced line, and running straight ahead.

"In hindsight and as an offensive coach, I wonder if we would have huddled and slowed down, would we have won and (Johnson) wouldn't have had as many carries to hurt us," he said. "I don't know. You do what you do."

Just as was the case when the Knights were the ones having the unfathomable offensive night when Crossland kept finding guys open downfield.

"We were up 48-46 at halftime, we came out and stopped them twice and we scored," Zubey recalled. "I looked and said 'When are going to get another chance to do something like this again?' So we kept pushing."

Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic sports writer and current Prep Sports Director for 1013 Communications, is a 20-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com.