7. Quarterback central
Justin Worley.
Photo by Ron McCann
It's hard to imagine any season filled with more footballs in the air, completions and touchdowns. Record-setting and breakout seasons by Maty Mauk (Kenton, Ohio), Justin Worley (Northwestern, Rock Hill, SC), Dano Graves (Folsom, Calif.) and Quentin Williams (Jefferson, Tampa, Fla.) were just the tip of the iceberg for quarterbacks throughout the land.
Mauk threw for a national best 5,670 yards and 69 touchdowns in just 13 games, while Worley, the Gatorade Player of the Year, passed for 5,313 yards and 64 touchdowns while leading Northwestern to a state crown.
Williams threw for 53 touchdowns and just six interceptions and Graves accounted for a California state record 85 touchdowns while leading Folsom to a surprising state bowl title.
According to the Tampa Tribune, Williams finished his brilliant career with four state records: career passing yards (10,384), career touchdown passes (109), single-season passing yards (4,451) and single-season touchdown passes (56). Williams also led his team to an unbeaten season and the Class 3A state title – its first in any team sport. The team also set a state record by scoring 746 points.
After being humbled in its season opener on national television, losing 49-14 to Grant-Sacramento, Folsom (Folsom, Calif.) rattled off 14 straight wins behind its super hero quarterback Dano Graves. Standing barely 5-foot-9, the Doug Flutie clone set a California state record by accounting for 85 touchdowns, including six each in a 48-20 CIF State Division II Bowl championship win over then 18th-ranked Serra-Gardena two weeks after avenging its only defeat, beating then fourth-ranked Grant 41-20 in the Sac-Joaquin Section title game before 20,200 fans at Sacramento State University. Graves completed 236 of 363 passes for 3,702 yards and 62 touchdowns and rushed 165 times for 996 yards and 23 more scores. Folsom finished No. 7 in the country.
Dano Graves.
Photo by Gary Jones
More QBs on the loose:
* Though
Johnny Manziel wasn't quite among the national leaders at Tivy (Kerryville, Texas), he is considered one of the greatest playmakers in the
history of hallowed Texas prep football.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound quarterback has put up some amazing numbers during his brillant three-year career, completing 520 of 819 passes (63.5 percent) for 7,626 yards and 76 touchdowns. He also has rushed 531 times for 4,045 yards and 77 touchdowns. In addition, he has caught 30 passes for 582 yards and another five touchdowns.
* Everyone better watch for
Max Browne (Skyline, Sammamish Wash.), only a sophomore. He threw for 4,182 yards and 50 touchdowns.
* Wilcox County (Rochelle, Ga.) lost its playoff game to Wesleyan (Norcross, Ga.), 45-28, but senior quarterback
Nick Marshall finished his career with a state-record 103 touchdown passes.
* Western Pennsylvania is known for its quarterbacks and according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, senior quarterback
Christian Brumbaugh put his name in the record book at least four times while guiding
South Fayette (McDonald, Pa.) to a 49-12 rout of
Forest Hills (Sidman, Pa.) during the Class AA state semifinals.
Max Browne.
Photo by Jeff Napier
The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder completed 21 of 31 passes for 362 yards to set a western Pennsylvania record with 7,052 career passing yards. He also broke the WPIAL record for one season with 3,615 yards. On a state-wide basis, he set a playoff record with six touchdown passes in a single game and tied the single-season record with 50 touchdown passes.
Forest Hills coach Don Bailey told the Post-Gazette, "That's probably the best passing attack I've seen in my 37 years as a head coach."
Brumbaugh, who has committed to William & Mary, led his undefeated Lions into the state title game on Saturday against West Catholic (Philadelphia). The Lions (15-1) lost 50-14 in the state finals and Brumbagh was 11 of 28 for 111 yards, finishing with 7,163 career yards and 3,726 yards for the season.
See the entire national leader board here.
