Malaki Dowell of White County (Sparta, Tenn.) is the national leading rusher with 1,595 yards in five games. The Warriors are 4-1 on the season, suffering a 45-43 loss to Mount Juliet. Dowell was outstanding as usual, racking up 330 yards on 40 carries with four touchdowns.
Across the border in Kentucky on Sept. 9, Jerry Kpehe of Doss rushed for 332 yards and four touchdowns and ran an interception back for a score. However, it was not enough to lead the Dragons to victory as they fell to Frankfort 81-60.
In both games, spectacular performances were not enough to lead their teams to victory, and sometimes that's just how things work. Turnovers, penalties and outstanding performances by players on the winning team are sometimes enough to overcome a spectacular performance.
MaxPreps looks at 10 of the greatest performances in high school football history which, for one reason or another, did not lead to victory.
Matt Miller of DuBois threw for a Pennsylvania record 787 yards in 2015, but the Beavers fell 107-90 to Meadville.
Photo: Eric Elliott
787 — Matt Miller, DuBois (Pa.)
Stats: 31 of 55, 787 yards, 10 touchdowns
Opponent: Meadville, 90-107 loss
Date: Sept. 11, 2015
Note: Miller set state records for passing yards and touchdown passes in the loss. Meadville got a big game from Journey Brown, who rushed 29 times for 722 yards and 10 touchdowns.
756 — Mario Almendrez, Washington (Phoenix)
Stats: 38 of 76, 756 yards, 10 touchdowns
Opponent: Agua Fria, 74-96 loss
Date: Sept. 18, 2015
Note: One week after Miller threw for 787 yards in a loss, Almendrez nearly topped him with state records for yards and touchdowns in the loss to Agua Fria. Chris Cofield led Agua Fria with 357 yards rushing and seven touchdowns while Jaylon Green had 268 yards and three touchdowns.
690 — Damien Ferguson, Erwin (Asheville, N.C.)
Stats: 49 of 84, 690 yards, 6 touchdowns
Opponent: Ooltewah (Tenn.), 55-69 loss
Date: Sept. 2, 2016
Note: Ferguson set a state record for passing yardage and his receiver C.J. Thompson set a state record for receiving yardage with 372.
675 — Andrew Smith, Princeton (Mo.)
Stats: 675 yards passing and nine touchdowns, 79 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Opponent: Polo, 73-80 loss
Date: Oct. 14, 2016
Note: Smith's 675 yards set a state record which has since been eclipsed. Polo countered with 433 yards rushing and five touchdowns by Gunnar Martin.
668 — Will Plummer, Gilbert (Ariz.)
Stats: 41 of 70, 668 yards, 6 touchdowns
Opponent: Sunrise Mountain, 57-74 loss
Date: Sept. 14, 2018
Note: Plummer's yardage total ranks second to Armendarez on the Arizona state record list. Keegan Freid, the Sunrise Mountain quarterback, threw for 193 yards and four touchdowns and rushed 18 times for 200 yards and four scores.
667 — Blaine Huston, Kenton (Ohio)
Stats: 55 of 86, 667 yards, 5 touchdowns
Opponent: Memorial (St. Marys, Ohio), 34-39 loss
Date: Oct. 4, 2019
Note: Huston, brother of Alex Huston who set multiple national records while at Glendale (Springfield, Mo.), put his name among the all-time leaders with 55 completions and 86 attempts. The yardage total is third all-time in Ohio.
642 — Eli Holt, Tyler (Texas)
Stats: 27 of 46, 642 yards, 7 touchdowns
Opponent: Tyler Legacy, 55-62 loss
Date: Sept. 3, 2021
Note: Holt had seven touchdowns, but also tossed four interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Tyler Legacy also had a kickoff return for a touchdown.
639 — Bryce Kinsley, Cactus Shadows (Cave Creek, Ariz.)
Stats: 37 of 60, 639 yards, 6 touchdowns.
Opponent: Prescott, 49-63 loss
Date: Sept. 21, 2012
Note: Kinsley's total ranks fourth all-time in Arizona (meaning three of the top four yardage totals came in losses). Prescott got 419 yards rushing with five touchdowns on 30 carries.
636 — Tristan Miller, Santa Clarita Christian (Canyon Country, Calif.)
Stats: 34 of 43, 636 yards, 7 touchdowns
Opponent: South El Monte, 47-61 loss
Date: Nov. 18, 2016
Note: While Miller threw on nearly every play for Santa Clarita Christian, 20 of his passes went to Jacob Moss for 381 yards and five touchdowns. For South El Monte, Sal Tovar ran 32 times for 308 yards and seven touchdowns.
634 — Mac Morse, Pearce (Richardson, Texas)
Stats: 42 of 68, 634 yards, 4 touchdowns.
Opponent: Newman Smith (Carrollton, Texas), 56-70 loss.
Date: Nov. 6, 2009
Note: Morse's total ranks eighth in Texas state history for single game yardage. Randall Joyner ran for 305 yards for Newman Smith while Aldo Quiroga threw for 263 yards and five touchdowns.
