Top 25 highest scoring games in high school football history

Since, however, 100-point games have become a rarity. According to the website luckyshow.org, only about 75 100-point games have occured in the past 88 seasons. Which makes the 2019 season stand out due to the performances of Hilo (Hawaii) and Riggs (Pierre, S.D.).

Hilo, en route to a 13-0 season and a berth in the Division 1 state championship game against ‘Iolani on Friday, posted a 104-0 win Sept. 5 over Waiakea (Hilo, Hawaii). The score equaled the state's all-time record of 104 points, set on Nov. 16, 1923 by Kamehameha over Honolulu Military Academy. Hilo had 322 yards of offense, but also scored on three interception returns and two fumble returns for touchdowns.

Riggs, which won the South Dakota 11AA state championship on Nov. 15, downed Spearfish 103-0 in the first round of the playoffs Oct. 31. Riggs had 601 yards of offense, scoring nine rushing touchdowns, five passing touchdowns and one kickoff return for a score.

While not everyone was thrilled about the point totals, historically speaking the two 100-point games mark the first time multiple teams hit the century mark during a given year since 1970 when there were also two 100-point games.

Prior to 1931, 100-point games were almost a weekly occurrence. In fact on Oct. 4, 1924, a total of nine 100-point games took place. The reasons why teams were able to score over 100-points in a game during that era are varied, but here's a few:

1. Many high schools were beginning football programs around 1920 and facing more experienced programs.

2. Games were sometimes played with time periods of 15-minute quarters. Some games were even played with 15-minute and 12-minute quarters in the same game.

3. Teams often had players aged 18-20 because they worked to support the family.

4. Rules at the time permitted the team that allowed a touchdown to choose to kick off to the scoring team. The strategy was to pin the scoring team deep in its own territory.

5. Teams usually had only about 20 players, thus substitutes were few. In fact, rules of the time prevented free substitution. Once a player left the game, he was unable to return until the second half.

6. There was no mercy rule at the time to limit high scores and allow for a running clock.

All of those factors contributed to high scores being the norm in the first half of the century. MaxPreps provides a list of the Top 25 highest scoring games in high school football history.

Top 25 Highest Scoring Games in High School Football History

1. Haven (Kan.) 256, Sylvia 0
Date: Nov. 16, 1927
With 20 touchdowns in the first half and 18 in the second, Haven set the national record for touchdowns in a game with 38. A total of 28 extra points gave Haven the national record for points in a game that has yet to be challenged. Elvin McCoy had 13 touchdowns (90 points) and Jesse Atkinson added nine touchdowns. Haven outscored opponents 579-0 during the season. McCoy, who went on to earn All-American honors at Emporia State, is listed by other publications as having scored 98, 96 and 92 points in the game, but 90 points is regarded as the record.

2. Staunton (Ill.) 233, Gillespie 0
Date: Nov. 23, 1923
Most accounts in Illinois newspapers following the day of the game list the final score as 232-0, however the Illinois High School Association record book lists the game as 233-0. An account in the Journal Times of Racine, Wisc., notes that Staunton scored 104 points in the second quarter alone. Staunton outscored its opponents 494-23 on the season, according to state historian Ray Schmidt. George Oehler had 10 touchdowns in the win.

3. Stigler (Okla.) 219, Fort Gibson 0
Date: Sept. 26, 1924
Two weeks earlier, Stigler had defeated Tahlequah 119-0 and the year before downed Wilburton 154-6. Against Fort Gibson, Stigler reportedly had "2,500 yards of offense" in the win. Stigler scored 33 touchdowns and 21 extra points. According to Oklahoma historian Ray Soldan, Stigler had 788 yards rushing with 17 touchdowns on 48 rushes. They added six touchdowns on 12 pass completions for 332 yards. Stigler also had 829 yards in return yardage, returning four touchdowns on 27 punt and kickoff returns (Fort Gibson elected to kick off following Stigler touchdowns 13 times). Another three touchdowns came on interceptions and one touchdown on a fumble recovery in the end zone. Two touchdowns were unaccounted for. Stigler opened the season with 390 points in its first three games. Harvey Pogue had eight touchdowns in the win while Joe Fuqua had seven touchdowns and 10 conversions. Stigler finished 10-0 on the season and scored 577 points. Score by quarters were 47-59-54-59.

4. Muskegon (Mich.) 216, Hastings 0
Date: Sept. 28, 1912
Fred Jacks scored nine touchdowns (54 points) and Nelson Stuit kicked 24 extra points, which still ranks No. 2 all-time nationally. Muskegon outscored its opponents 499-16 on the season. Muskegon also scored 130 points against Ferris Institute during the season. Score by quarters against Hastings was 40-62-48-66.

5. Anthony-Harper-Chaparral (Anthony, Kan.) 211, Kiowa 0
Date: Nov. 27, 1913
Not much is known about this game, other than it was reported in the Wichita Daily Eagle that "every player on the Anthony team" scored a touchdown. Anthony claimed the championship of South Kansas with the win, however earlier in the season Anthony had lost to Pratt 86-0. Don't feel too bad for Kiowa. In 1920, Kiowa returned the favor with a 110-0 win over Anthony. Known as Anthony High School in 1913, the school has since consolidated.

6. Marion (Kan.) 205, Hillsboro 0
Date: Sept. 30, 1922
Marion opened its season with a 125-0 win over Burns and followed it with a 205-0 victory over Hillsboro. Marion went 8-2 on the season and outscored opponents 551 to 42. No other information was available.

7. Cozad (Neb.) 201, Overton 7
Date: Nov. 12, 1921
Arthur Smith had a phenomenal performance in this game, setting the record for most touchdowns accounted for in a game by throwing for a still-standing national record of 15 touchdowns and rushing for an additional 10 touchdowns. Cozad had the unique distinction of defeating Farnam 174-0 two weeks prior to the Overton game and also losing to North Platte 176-0 early in the season.

8. Tamaqua (Pa.) 194, St. Clair 0
Date: Nov. 13, 1915
Tamaqua scored 29 touchdowns in the game, including nine by a player identified only as "McNulty." The kicker, "Burke," added 19 extra points and also ran for six touchdowns for 55 total points.

9. Dobyns-Bennett (Kingsport, Tenn.) 193, Norton Beach 0
Date: Sept. 25, 1926
Known as Kingsport in 1926, Dobyns-Bennett set the state record with only 12 points in the second quarter. However it also scored 52 in the first, 73 in the third and 53 in the fourth. The two teams played 15 minute quarters in the first and third and 12-minute quarters in the second and fourth. Paul Hug led the 30-touchdown assault with eight touchdowns.

10. Gallatin County (Bozeman, Mont.), 187, Sheridan 0
Date: Oct. 4, 1924
The highest-scoring game in Montana history includes a performance that is not recognized in the record books. According to the Anaconda Standard on Oct. 10, a player named "Horner" scored 16 of Gallatin County's 27 touchdowns. The 16 touchdowns would be a national record for touchdowns in a game. No information on how many extra points Horner might have scored. Gallatin County is now known as Bozeman High School.

11. Spur (Texas) 186, Lorenzo 0
Date: Nov. 7, 1930
Spur set the Texas state record with 186 points en route to scoring 748 points on the season and lead the nation in points scored. Jim Hahn scored 10 touchdowns in the game and Brode Puckett added six touchdowns and 22 rushing extra points. Spur had defeated Estelline 142-0 and Post 91-0 earlier in the season. Spur was eliminated from the postseason after it was determined Puckett and Hahn were both ineligible.

12. Salem (Ill.) 184, Fairfield 0
Date: Oct. 8, 1943
Originally reported as a 184-0 win, the score was changed to 188-0 after a re-check of the stats — only to have the score changed back to 184-0. Don Wile ran for 13 touchdowns and 10 extra points to give him 88 total points.

13. Roby (Texas) 184, Aspermont 0
Date: Nov. 26, 1925
At the time, Roby set the state record for most points scored in a game. No information, other than the score, is available for the game. Two years later, Roby almost did it again, beating Aspermont 144-0 on Oct. 28.

14. Taylorville (Ill.) 181, Tuscola 0
Date: Nov. 17, 1917
Listed in the NFHS record book as a 185-0 win in 1916, the score was actually 181-0 in 1917, according to the Taylorville yearbook. Several publications have reported that Taylorville's Deam Mullen scored 22 touchdowns in the win. One of the publications, called the Kern County Sports Chronicles, quotes former Chicago Bear Moon Mullen, the younger brother of Deam, who says that his brother scored 22 touchdowns against Tuscola. If so, the TD total would easily break the listed total of 14, held by two players. However, the school record book clearly lists Mullen with only nine touchdowns in the win.

15. Genoa-Hugo (Hugo, Colo.) 176, Vona 6
Date: Oct. 29, 1930
Hugo actually trailed in this game as Vona used a "sleeper" play along its own sidelines to get a player open for the first touchdown of the game. Hugo went on to score 176 unanswered points, including 72 by Ken Pearson for a Colorado state record. Hugo scored 386 points over three games, including a 106-0 win over Flagler and a 104-0 win over Burlington. Hugo finished the season with 748 points on the year, which tied Spur for the national high for the year. Known only as Hugo in 1930, the school has since played as a co-op with Genoa.

16. North Platte (Neb.) 176, Cozad 0
Date: Sept. 30, 1921
During the same season it scored 201 points and 174 points in a game, Cozad lost to North Platte 176-0. No details are available, but North Platte went on to claim the state championship after beating Lincoln on Thanksgiving Day. One publication also had Cozad losing to Kearney Military Academy 114-0 on Oct. 29, but the score was actually 14-0.

17. Carbon (Price, Utah) 175, Ferron 6
Date: Oct. 29, 1926
The state record for points scored in a game in Utah, Carbon County scored 26 touchdowns and 19 extra points. A player named "Davis" reportedly scored 72 points according to one publication, but the Deseret News listed "Howard" and "Davis" with seven touchdowns each.

18. Central (Little Rock, Ark.) 174, Russellville 0
Date: Oct. 4, 1919
Central is one of the great football programs in national high school football history with 32 state championships. Against Russellville, Central got eight touchdowns from "Bell" and seven touchdowns and 10 extra points by "Stewart." Score by quarters was 47-26-58-43.

18. Cozad (Neb.) 174, Farnam 0
Date: Oct. 29, 1921
Cozad is thus part of three of the top 19 all-time scoring games, all in the same season. No details on the game, including whether or not Art Smith had any more touchdown passes (See No. 7).

18. Everett (Wash.) 174, North (Bellingham) 0
Date: Oct. 11, 1913
Everett had one of the top teams in the nation during the 1910s. The North game was the highest-scoring game for the Washington club, but no other details are available.

21. Moline (Ill.) 172, Galva 0
Date: Oct. 11, 1902
Played in a pair of 20-minute halves, Moline set the national record for points in a game that wasn't broken until 1912 by Muskegon. Moline scored 29 touchdowns (touchdowns were worth 5 points in 1902) and Henry Kelting kicked a national record 27 extra points (a record that still stands today). Moline reportedly gained 2,610 yards of offense, although most of it was on kickoff returns. Kelting also had five touchdowns, giving him 52 total points.

22. Gridley (Ill.) 169, Chenoa 0
Date: Sept. 24, 1920
Chenoa was in its first year of football when it met an experienced Gridley squad. A player named "Braughman" led Gridley's 24-touchdown attack with five touchdowns and 16 extra points.

23. Holton (Kan.) 166, Seneca 0
Date: Nov. 25, 1920
Walter Shannon scored eight touchdowns in the win while Orville Baskett kicked 22-of-24 extra points (which would rank third all-time nationally, but is not currently in the NFHS record book). Holton outscored opponents 406-88 on the season.

24. (tie) Highland (Medina, Ohio) 165, Spencer 0
Date: Oct. 5, 1923
Erastus "Tunk" Simmons scored 13 touchdowns and 78 points in a performance that still ranks as the state record in Ohio.

24. (tie) Nash (Okla.) 165, Medford 0
Date: Nov. 23, 1928
Nash scored 568 points on the season, according to Soldan, with Wade Hildinger scoring 37 touchdowns on the season. He scored 11 of them in the win over Medford. Nash High School closed in 2013.

Notes: Not all 100-point games have been corroborated. Sherman's 199-0 win over McKinney in 1928, reported by the Corsica Sun, was actually a typo and was only a 19-0 win. Moberly's 198-0 win over Montgomery City in 1923, reported by several St. Louis newspapers, was actually only 148-0. Temple has been listed with a 213-0 win over Comanche in 1920, but that hasn't been substantiated. Mechanicsburg (Ohio) is listed by the Union County newspaper with a 174-0 win over West Mansfield in 1916, but the Ohio High School Athletic Association does not have this score in its record book. Top 25 scores were compiled based on list found on luckyshow.org.