Tempe's Emanuel Gant breaks Arizona career passing state record

His freshman season must seem like a lifetime ago.

Emanuel Gant, who on Friday broke the Arizona career passing yardage total, started on a Tempe (Ariz.) team that was 1-9 in 2011.

On Friday, he led the Buffaloes to a 62-24 win over Alhambra in a Division III Section VI game and to their 10th-straight victory.

According to the Arizona Republic, he broke Luke Rubenzer's state record with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Lorenzo Valencia with 8:47 left in the first quarter to give Tempe a 14-0 lead.

Gant, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior, passed for 216 yards and four touchdowns as the Buffaloes raced to a 38-10 halftime lead and cruised. They finished their first undefeated regular season in 18 years.

See Jason Skoda's story on  the "Year of the Quarterbacks" in Arizona

All eyes were on Gant, who now has the state record of 9,833 career yards.

"It means a lot to me," Gant told the Republic. "I gave great thanks to my linemen that I've had, different receivers that I've had all four years. It feels great. I've stuck it out through thick and thin, and I'm just proud to be a Buffalo."

He should surpass the 10,000-yard barrier next week in a state Division III playoff game against of all teams Higley (Gilbert, Ariz.).

Earlier this year, Higley defeated Apache Junction 95-75 and sophomore quarterback Mason Crossland completed 23 of 31 for 641 yards and nine touchdowns. In 10 games, Crossland has completed 148 of 223 for 2,777 yards and 33 touchdowns. See story/video

Gant has almost identical statistics this season with 2,754 yards and 34 touchdowns.

That should be a fun one.