The ball seemingly by no means touched the bottom.
Some highschool performances reside on in native lore eternally. We tried to seize these video games right here with essentially the most insane, eye-popping receiving numbers in single video games within the historical past of the highschool soccer.
These 12 performances stand out from all others. Whereas the air recreation has been amplified over the previous twenty years, this checklist isn’t restricted to twenty first century extensive receivers — there are a number of from the 90s, together with an astonishing 1942 efficiency.
Statistics come from quite a lot of sources together with MaxPreps, NFHS, ESPN, native newspapers, and state affiliation web sites that monitor highschool soccer information.
12. Earvin Johnson, Cathedral Excessive College (Los Angeles, Calif.): Nov. 8, 1988
12 catches, 251 yards, 8 touchdowns
He’s not Magic, however it actually was Showtime in Los Angeles on this 1988 autumn night. Vast receiver Earvin Johnson broke the earlier nationwide report of six touchdowns as he accounted for 48 of his staff’s factors within the 67-38 win. 4 of his touchdowns had been longer than 20 yards and the longest was 50.
The eight touchdowns has but to be beat.
11. Jake Maulhardt, Camarillo Excessive College (Calif.): Sept. 23, 2011
28 receptions, 347 yards, 3 touchdowns
That 28 reception quantity is a ridiculous factor to fathom. Quarterback Michael Marin had 42 completions for 447 passing yards — very, very excessive numbers alone. And Maulhardt caught two-thirds of that complete, together with three of the 4 4 touchdowns.
The yardage is barely disputed — some say 345, one web site stated 351 — however that 6-yard differential does nothing to vary the impression of his recreation.
10. Ramon Nevarez, Bolsa Grande Excessive College (Backyard Grove, Calif.): 1996
8 receptions, 377 yards, 4 TD
You possibly can argue that eight receptions, a superb however not irregular quantity, ought to drop him down, however let’s go the other means: Ramon Nevarez averaged greater than 47 yards per reception. If his staff had the ball at their very own 1-yard line, a catch by Nevarez would, on common, get them to midfield. If they’d the ball on the 50, a catch would both be a landing or set them up for one. And all this befell in 1996, earlier than the surge of passing. It’s an absurd determine.
9. Yzerick Oliver, Worthing Excessive College (Houston, Texas): Nov. 15, 2013
19 receptions, 419 yards and 4 touchdowns
Yzerick Oliver was first-team all-district as a receiver, cornerback and kick returner, and his finest efficiency got here within the playoffs. He amassed greater than 400 receiving yards even whereas taking part in all three phases of the sport. Two of his touchdowns went for 31 yards, one for 15 and one for seven.
8. Jeff Clark, Nitro Excessive College (Wv.): Oct. 29, 1999
29 catches, 413 yards
A lot of this recreation is misplaced to historical past, however one factor is obvious: Greater than 20 years in the past, Jeff Clark set two ridiculous marks that stand as West Virginia highschool information right this moment. Twenty-nine receptions and 413 yards can be a strong season for some receivers. For Clark, it was only a informal recreation night time. The 29 catches are second-most nationally, and the receiving yards are seventh-most.
7. Robert Rhodes, Southwest Excessive College (Fort Price, Texas): Oct. 14, 2011
10 catches, 394 yards, eight touchdowns
It took 13 years for somebody to catch Earvin Johnson’s landing report. Lastly, in 2011, Robert Rhodes reached that eight landing mark — and he did it on simply 10 receptions. He averaged virtually 40 yards per catch and had an 80% landing ratio. If these numbers have been matched, we haven’t seen them.
6. Larry Bennett, Mogadore Excessive College (Ohio): Oct. 16, 1942
32 receptions, 335 yards
Not an entire lot of written work within the aftermath of this recreation as been preserved, however what is thought is that 32 receptions in a single recreation stays a nationwide report. No person else has reached 30.
And he recorded this in 1942. Adjusted for inflation — if Larry Bennett did this with right this moment’s pass-happy recreation — this positively would have been upward of 40 receptions and 450 yards, proper?
5. Gehrig Dieter, Washington Excessive College (South Bend, Ind.): Sept. 2, 2011
12 catches, 437 yards, 4 touchdowns
Gehrig Dieter turned the primary Indiana highschool soccer participant to report three video games of 300-plus receiving yards in a row. Within the ultimate one, he set a nationwide highschool report with 437 yards.
As Dieter approached the report, the ultimate 10 offensive performs went in his route. His touchdowns included a 90-yarder and a 39-yarder, the latter of which was the record-breaking catch, and he averaged greater than 36 yards per reception.
The streak of 300-yard video games earned him a lift in these rankings. It was an unbelievable stretch.
4. Steve Martinez, Wilson Excessive College (Los Angeles, Calif.): Nov. 4, 1977
19 receptions, 312 yards, 5 touchdowns
One might argue this recreation ought to rank greater for one huge purpose: Steve Martinez solely performed the primary half. He recorded 19 receptions, 312 yards and 5 touchdowns in half a recreation. He was 11 yards away from the state report. And solely performed one half.
Unbelievable numbers for a recreation. Unbelievable for a half.
3. Kraig Pruett, Waldport Excessive College (Ore.): Nov. 2, 2013
18 catches, 456 yards, 4 touchdowns
Dieter’s report didn’t final all that lengthy. The truth is, Kraig Pruett’s 456 yards really broke a new report, one which had been set a month prior. Extra on that in a second.
Pruett put collectively one of many best receiving performances of all time in Waldport’s ultimate recreation of the 2013 season, recording 4 touchdowns on the 18 catches that accounted for 456 receiving yards.
This smashed the earlier Oregon highschool report, one which had been set 10 years earlier, by greater than 100 yards.
Pruett completed the season with a mean of 155 receiving yards per recreation, the second-most in Oregon historical past.
2. Marc Lozoya, Alexander Excessive College (Laredo, Texas): Oct. 10, 2013
16 catches, 448 yards, six touchdowns*
Lozoya held the receiving report for nearly a month earlier than he was edged out by Pruett, however one notable facet of this recreation pushes it to the No. 2 spot: Lozoya didn’t play nearly all of the fourth quarter. Most, if not all, of those numbers got here via three quarters of play.
The 448 receiving yards set a Texas highschool report, a mark that also stands right this moment. Throw within the six touchdowns, and Lozoya put collectively some of the spectacular receiving performances of all time.
*preliminary stories stated 17 catches for 454 yards. It seems it was corrected.
1. Nate Drew, Chavez Academy (Detroit, Mich.): Nov. 11, 2013
17 catches for 459 yards and 7 touchdowns
The precise yardage is below dispute — some information say 459 yards, some say 456 — which suggests he’s both tied for the report or has sole possession. However what isn’t below dispute is Nate Drew’s absolute dominance. Solely two gamers have caught extra landing passes in a recreation, and solely 4 others have even reached seven.
It was essentially the most yards and second-most touchdowns in a recreation, together with 17 receptions and a mean of 27 yards per catch. It’s the best highschool receiving efficiency of all time.