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It's one of the oldest records in the National Federation of High Schools Record Book — Jersey Shore (Pa.) set the national record for scoring average in 1922 with 75.1 points per game.
Except that it never happened.
Sure Jersey Shore had a high-scoring team in 1922 and yes, it averaged over 70 points per game. It just didn't average 75.1 points and it doesn't hold the national record. It's not even in second place.
The error goes back over 40 years when mentions of national records and the NFHS record book first began appearing in newspapers and listed Jersey Shore with a 75.1 scoring average in nine games. However, research shows those numbers to be incorrect.
In the Harrisburg Telegraph in Nov. 27, 1922, Jersey Shore is listed as scoring 575 points in eight games for an average close to 72 points. In the Evening News (Harrisburg) on Dec. 4, Jersey Shore is again mentioned as the state leader with 575 points. The Harrisburg Telegraph also notes Jersey Shore's 575-point total in its Dec. 7 issue.
In a book sponsored by the Jersey Shore Historical Society in 2006, a picture of the 1922 team and the story says "in eight games they scored 575 points to their opponents' 0." The scores of the eight games are listed, but ironically they only add up to 573 points.
Additionally, the Spalding Guide for 1922, which provided information on high schools and colleges across the country, listed Jersey Shore with 575 points. How Jersey Shore's total evolved into 676 points in nine games is unknown, but the evidence is clear it only scored 575 points in eight games.
So Jersey Shore's scoring total was actually 71.9 points per game, which would have been good enough for second place at the time, behind only Fostoria (Ohio), which had averaged 74.5 points in 1912 by scoring 596 points in eight games.
Later, Haven (Kansas) would move ahead of Jersey Shore into second place with 579 points in eight games for a 72.4 average.
Fostoria, Haven and Jersey Shore all had the distinction of building their scoring averages while shutting out all eight of their opponents.
Nick Brickens, New Palestine
File photo by Brenda Adams-Turk
Year: 1912
Points/Games: 596/8
Highest Games: Defeated Crestline, 131-0; defeated Prairie Depot Wayne, 103-0; defeated Tiffin, 87-0 defeated Buffalo Central (NY), 74-0.
Lowest Games: Defeated Bowling Green, 28-0; defeated Springfield, 41-0.
Notes: Fostoria is one of two teams to claim a national championship in 1912. Oak Park (Ill.) is the other. Fostoria played Buffalo Central in a "national championship" game and won easily. The 74.5 average surpassed the previous national record of 66.4 set by Detroit University School in 1908.
2. Haven (Kan.) — 72.4
Year: 1927
Points/Games: 579/8
Highest Games: Defeated Silvia, 256-0
Notes: Heading into the Silvia game, Haven had outscored its previous six opponents 275-0 for a 45.8 scoring average. The 256-0 Silvia win, the highest-scoring game in high school history, upped Haven's scoring average to 75.9, but a 48-0 win in the final game lowered the average back down to 72.4.
3. Jersey Shore (Pa.) — 71.9
Year: 1922
Points/Games: 575/8
Highest Games: Defeated South Williamsport, 127-0; defeated Bloomsburg, 101-0; defeated Carrolltown, 113-0.
Lowest Games: Mansfield, 9-0; Shamokin, 44-0.
Notes: Jersey Shore is one of just three schools to score over 100 points three times in one season. Although Jersey Shore was the highest-scoring team in the state, Wilkinsburg was deemed the state champion due to a tougher schedule.
4. Hugo (Colo.) — 68.0
Year: 1930
Points/Games: 748/11
Highest Games: Defeated Vona, 176-6; defeated Simla, 129-0; defeated Flagler, 106-0; defeated Burlington, 104-0.
Lowest Games: Lost to Canon City, 20-6; defeated Trinidad, 13-6.
Notes: Prior to the start of the playoffs in 1930, Hugo had been credited with 726 points in nine games in a story that was printed in newspapers across the country. That would be an average of over 80 points per game. However, Hugo scored 13 points in a playoff win over Trinidad and then lost to Canon City 20-6 in the semifinals. Although that only equals 745 points for the season, the CHSAA record book credits Hugo with 748 points for the 11-game season. Hugo also had 386 points in a three consecutive games.
5. Cozad (Neb.) — 67.1
Year: 1921
Points/Games: 604/9
Highest Games: Defeated Farnham, 174-0; defeated Overton, 201-7.
Lowest Games: Lost to North Platte, 176-0; lost to Curtis Aggies, 49-0; lost to Kearney Cadets, 14-0.
Notes: Cozad may have the strangest season in high school history. The team averaged 67.1 points per game in nine games, despite being shut out in three of those games and allowing 176 points in one of them. Of course, Cozad scored 201 points and 176 points in two of their wins.
6. Steele (Dayton, Ohio) — 66.8
Year: 1920
Points/Games: 601/9
Highest Games: Defeated Norwood, 129-0.
Lowest Games: Lost to Oak Park, 19-6.
Notes: Steele was in the running to play Harrisburg Tech and possibly a team from Tacoma for the national championship. Instead, they met up with Oak Park and suffered its only loss of the season.
7. Detroit University School (Mich.) — 66.4
Year: 1908
Points/Games: 465/7
Highest Games: Defeated Bay City Eastern, 160-0.
Lowest Games: Defeated Flint, 15-5.
Notes: D.U.S. tried to find opponents for late in the season to determine a state champion, but found no takers and was deemed the state champion.
8. Harrisburg Tech (Pa.) — 66.3
Year: 1918
Points/Games: 597/9
Highest Games: Defeated Williamson Training School, 100-3; defeated Mount Carmel, 83-0; defeated Belford Academy, 94-0.
Lowest Games: Defeated Lebanon, 13-0; defeated Middleton Aviators, 24-0.
Notes: Among the two national championship teams Harrisburg Tech fielded in 1918 and 1919, the latter is generally considered the better of the two as it outscored opponents 701-0 in 12 game. However, the 1918 team was the higher-scoring of the two at 66.3 points per game.
9. Smith Center (Kan.) — 64.9
Year: 2007
Points/Games: 844/13
Highest Games: Defeated Plainville, 83-0; defeated Lincoln, 78-0; defeated Phillipsburg, 74-0.
Lowest Games: Defeated St. Mary's-Colgan, 40-14; defeated St. Francis, 44-6.
Notes: As part of a 79-game win streak, the longest in state history, Smith Center averaged 64.9 points during its best season. That included an 83-0 playoff win over Plainville in which it scored a national record 72 points in the first quarter.
10. Central Catholic (Modesto, Calif.) — 64.7
Year: 2005
Points/Games: 777/12
Highest Games: Defeated Modesto Christian, 84-6; defeated Vacaville Christian, 81-6; defeated Gustine, 87-0; defeated Riverbank, 75-0.
Lowest Games: Defeated San Joaquin Memorial, 48-28; defeated Buhach Colony, 40-0.
Notes: After averaging 59.2 points per game in 2003 and 57.9 in 2004, the Raiders set a state record in 2005 by averaging 64.7.
11. Aledo (Texas) — 63.9
Year: 2013
Points/Games: 1,023/16
Highest Games: Defeated Western Hills, 91-0; defeated Wyatt, 84-7; defeated Burleson, 76-6; defeated Boswell, 75-14.
Lowest Games: Defeated Ennis, 29-6; defeated Brenham, 38-10.
Notes: Aledo is the only high school team to score over 1,000 points in a season. It was averaging 68 points per game heading into the final two games of the playoffs, but had its two lowest scoring games of the season (against Ennis and Brenham) to finish with just under 64 points an outing.
12. Newark Catholic (Newark, Ohio) — 63.7
Year: 1968
Points/Games: 637/10
Highest Games: Defeated Lucas, 89-0; defeated East Knox, 83-0.
Lowest Games: Defeated Columbus, 40-12.
Notes: The 10-0 season stretched Newark Catholic's winning streak to 23 games in a row. The streak ultimately reached 36 in a row when it was broken in 1970.
13. Bloomington (Calif.) — 62.9
Year: 1994
Points/Games: 880/14
Highest Games: Defeated Big Bear, 86-8; defeated Notre Dame, 84-0; defeated Artesia, 82-62.
Lowest Games: Defeated Laguna Hills, 34-21.
Notes: Bloomington went 1-9 in 1993 and then hired Don Markham as coach. His Bandon (Ore.) team had averaged over 50 points per game in 1993 using a double-wing offense. While at Bloomington, Markham had three teams average over 51 points per game including the 1994 team that set the national record for most total points scored in a season.
14. Lansing Central (Mich.) — 62.6
Year: 1918
Points/Games: 501/8
Highest Games: Defeated Jackson, 96-0.
Lowest Games: Defeated Northwestern, 10-6.
Notes: After a disputed championship in 1917, Lansing Central was the undisputed champion in 1918 after beating Detroit Central 61-0 in the de facto championship game. At one point during the season, the Lansing team was forced to stop practice by the police who were enforcing the "flu" quarantine.
15. Pioneer (Royal Center, Ind.) — 62.4
Year: 2018
Points/Games: 936/15
Highest Games: Defeated South Newton, 86-0; defeated Caston, 78-0; defeated North White, 78-0; defeated Winamac, 76-0.
Lowest Games: Defeated Knox, 36-0; defeated North Judson-San Pierre, 36-0.
Notes: Quarterback Jack Kiser rushed for 2,106 yards and 44 touchdowns to lead Pioneer to a Class 1A state championship.
16. Muskegon (Mich.) — 62.4
Year: 1912
Points/Games: 499/8
Highest Games: Defeated Hastings Square, 216-0; defeated Ferris Institute, 130-0.
Lowest Games: Defeated Benton Harbor, 13-3.
Notes: Muskegon set the record for most points in a game with 216 against Hastings Square. Most of the touchdowns were reportedly scored on kickoff returns. In the early 20th century, teams that gave up a touchdown could elect to kick off rather than receive the kick. As shown by Muskegon, this strategy doesn't always work.
17. Maxton (NC) — 61.8
Year: 1975
Points/Games: 804/13
Highest Games: Defeated North Duplin, 86-8.
Lowest Games: Defeated Robbinsille 36-14.
Notes: Led by James McDougald, Maxton won the Class 1A state championship with an 86-8 win over North Duplin. McDougald scored 39 touchdowns and 25 two-point conversions on the season.
18. Martinsburg (W. Va.) — 61.4
Year: 2019
Points/Games: 859/14
Highest Games: Defeated Preston, 84-0; defeated Parkersburg South, 77-20; defeated Spring Mills, 77-0.
Lowest Games: Defeated Sherando, 37-0.
Notes: Last year's Martinsburg team finished the season with a fourth straight state championship and the nation's second-longest winning streak at 56 games in a row.
19. Lansing Central (Mich.) — 61.3
Year: 1917
Points/Games: 490/8
Highest Games: Defeated Lapeer, 110-0; defeated Bay City Western, 127-0.
Lowest Games: Tied Grand Rapids Union, 0-0.
Notes: By the end of the season, Lansing Central was looking for teams to play in order to determine the unofficial state champion. However Detroit Central declined the invitation and Detroit Northwestern also chose not to play.
20. New Palestine (Ind.) — 61.0
Year: 2015
Points/Games: 854/14
Highest Games: Defeated Pendleton Heights, 84-17; Defeated Greenfield-Central, 77-20; Defeated Richmond, 72-7.
Lowest Games: Defeated Columbus East, 24-14; Defeated Shelbyville, 45-0.
Notes: The 2015 New Palestine team has the highest scoring average in state history, but it did not win a state championship. It lost to Fort Wayne Snider 64-61. The 61 points are the most points ever scored in a losing cause in an Indiana state championship game.
21. Genoa Area (Genoa, Ohio) — 60.7
Year: 2013
Points/Games: 668/11
Highest Games: Defeated Port Clinton, 84-13; Defeated Woodmore, 88-14.
Lowest Games: Lost to Bryan, 43-36; Defeated Rossford, 40-6.
Notes: Genoa was averaging nearly 64 points a game during an undefeated season, but it lost in the first round of the playoffs to Bryan. Interestingly, Genoa Area played two other programs on the list, beating Fostoria 70-30 and Waite 65-13.
22. Refugio (Texas) — 60.7
Year: 2012
Points/Games: 789/13
Highest Games: Defeated Taft, 80-0; defeated Hebbronville, 77-0 defeated Freer, 77-7; defeated Kaufer, 76-0; defeated Skidmore-Tynan, 84-0.
Lowest Games: Defeated Lago Vista, 28-12; Defeated Banquete, 31-0; lost to East Bernard, 54-23.
Notes: Quarterback Travis Quintanilla led Refugio with 4,005 yards passing and 57 touchdowns, but Refugio couldn't get past East Bernard in the postseason.
23. Miami Trace (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) — 60.6
Year: 1977
Points/Games: 606/10
Highest Games: Defeated Circleville, 78-0; defeated Delaware, 84-14.
Lowest Games: Defeated Lancaster, 34-6.
Notes: Led by All-American quarterback Art Schlichter, Miami Trace went undefeated for 44 straight games (30 with Schlichter), yet never went to the playoffs. Only four teams qualified in each division for the postseason in the 1970s.
24. Waite (Toledo, Ohio) — 60.5
Year: 1921
Points/Games: 666/11
Highest Games: Defeated West (Columbus) 115-0; Defeated Tiffin, 114-0; Defeated Ada, 162-0.
Lowest Games: Lost to Dayton Steele, 14-7.
Notes: Led by Cully Berndt, Waite scored over 100 points three times and had 95 points in another game. The wins over Ada and Tiffin were back-to-back contests. Berndt finished the season as the nation's leading scorer with 333 points and 51 touchdowns. Waite lost to rival Dayton Steele in a game that might have cost Waite the outright mythical state championship, except that no state champion was named in 1921. It likely cost Waite the national championship since Steele went on to lose to Duval (Jacksonville, Fla.), which was then deemed the national champion.
25. Soldotna (Alaska) — 60.4
Year: 2013
Points/Games: 664/11
Highest Games: Defeated Houston, 76-28; defeated Houston, 69-13.
Lowest Games: Defeated Colony, 47-24; defeated Skyview, 54-0.
Notes: The 11 wins were part of a 59-game winning streak for Soldotna. A very consistent team, the difference between Soldotna's highest score of the season and the lowest score was only 29 points.
26. New Britain (Conn.) — 60.3
Year: 2002
Points/Games: 603/10
Highest Games: Defeated Bulkeley-Hartford, 84-0; defeated Bristol Central, 79-6.
Lowest Games: Lost to Greenwich, 40-21.
Notes: New Britain set the state record for scoring average, but did not win a state championship after losing to Greenwich in the semifinals. Also coached by Jack Cochran, New Britain averaged 56.5 points in 2004 and 48.9 in 2003.
27. Limon (Colo.) — 60.2
Year: 1968
Points/Games: 722/12
Highest Games: Defeated Stratton, 82-40; defeated Ignacio, 86-26; defeated Rocky Ford, 83-32.
Lowest Games: Defeated St. Francis, 19-7.
Notes: Limon was unbeaten (two ties) between 1964 and 1968 with the 1968 team the last of eight state championship teams for Limon during the 1960s. No team in the nation won more games in the 1960s than Limon with 103.
28. Bloomfield (Conn.) — 60.1
Year: 1999
Points/Games: 662/11
Highest Games: Defeated Glastonbury, 70-3; defeated Hall, 76-0.
Lowest Games: Defeated Simsbury 47-11; defeated Conard, 42-12.
Notes: Coached by Jack Cochran, Bloomfield won 35 games in a row between 1996 and 2000. Bloomfield defeated Ansonia 54-0 for the Class S championship.
29. South Hills (Fort Worth, Texas) — 60.0
Year: 2014
Points/Games: 660/11
Highest Games: Defeated Paschal, 76-14; defeated Pinkston, 71-21; defeated North Side, 72-6.
Lowest Games: Lost to Burleston, 37-21.
Notes: South Hills finished the regular season 10-0 with Tracin Wallace throwing for 2,093 yards and 30 touchdowns. South Hills lost in the first round of the postseason to Burleston.
