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Best Passing Attack in IL HS Football History?

DMurph11

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May 16, 2012
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Kicking around a topic on here - In your opinion what was the best passing attack in the history of the state?

A couple early ones that come to mind are the Otto Z. RB teams and the Westerkamp Montini team that hung 70pts on JCA in the title game.
 
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I do not have stats to offer (just aging memories), but when Coach J.R. Bishop came to Naperville Central from Indiana, his offenses threw the rock around quite a bit for that time. One of his slingers in the early '80s was Sean Payton who went on to lead EIU's "Eastern Airlines" attack.
 
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Team Passing
Passing Yardage
Most Yards Passing, Season
[1.] 5,056, Riverside (R.-Brookfield), 2001 (345 comp., 546 att., 62 tds.)

[2.] 4971, Rochester, 2011

[3.] 4,261, Greenville, 2013

[4.] 4,199, Tuscola, 1997 (275 of 488)

[5.] 4,152, Wheaton (W. Warrenville South), 1998 (14 games)

[6.] 3,986, Lombard (Montini), 2011

[7.] 3,971, Lockport (Twp.), 2002

[8.] 3960, Rochester, 2016

[9.] 3946, Greenville, 2014

[10.] 3929, Rochester, 2017

[11.] 3,919, Greenville, 2011

[12.] 3,848, South Beloit, 2002

[13.] 3,803, Aurora (Christian), 2011

[14.] 3768, Rochester, 2019

[15.] 3,719, Maple Park (Kaneland), 2006

[16.] 3590, Taylorville, 2018

[17.] 3,541, Aurora (A. Christian), 2017

[18.] 3,528, Riverside (R.-Brookfield), 2000 (503 att., 266 comp.)

[19.] 3,504, Riverside (R.-Brookfield), 2003 (11 games)

[20.] 3503, Farmington, 2016

Most Touchdowns Passing, Season
[1.] 62, Riverside (R.-Brookfield), 2001

[2.] 61, Wheaton (W. Warrenville South), 1998

[3.] 57, Greenville, 2014

[4.] 54, Rochester, 2017

[5.] 53, Lombard (Montini), 2011

[5.] 53, Rochester, 2016

[7.] 52, Aurora (Christian), 2011

[8.] 50, Tuscola, 1997

[9.] 49, Pekin (H.S.), 2002

[9.] 49, Rochester, 2019

[11.] 45, South Beloit, 2002 (14 games)

[11.] 45, Aurora (A. Christian), 2008

[11.] 45, Mendon (Unity), 2016

[11.] 45, Quincy (Sr.), 2023

[15.] 44, Aurora (A. Christian), 2012

[15.] 44, Greenville, 2013

[15.] 44, Monticello, 2018

[18.] 43, Riverside (R.-Brookfield), 2002 (11 games)

[18.] 43, Maple Park (Kaneland), 2006

[18.] 43, Lombard (Montini), 2009
 
There has to be some Rochester and SHG teams mentioned in this conversation since they can put up 40+ points in any game of every year.

Murph, what about St Francis next year? They had a good offense last year.
 
Kicking around a topic on here - In your opinion what was the best passing attack in the history of the state?

A couple early ones that come to mind are the Otto Z. RB teams and the Westerkamp Montini team that hung 70pts on JCA in the title game.

I believe Montini's QB that year with Rhode was out about 5 games that year with a broken finger on the passing hand but that offense was lethal.
 
2003 Maine South
Most Yards Passing, Season


[1.] 4,751, Sean Price, Park Ridge (Maine South), 2003 (342 comp., 55 td.)
[2.] 4,644, Tim Brasic, Riverside (R.-Brookfield), 2001 (313 of 489)
[3.] 4,216, Tyler Hutchinson, Greenville, 2013 (254 of 472, 43 TDs)
[4.] 4,186, Dylan Ward, Fairbury (Prairie Central), 2003 (270 comp., 46 tds.)
[5.] 4,052, Dusty Burk, Tuscola, 1997
[6.] 3,971, Steve Walker, Lockport (Twp.), 2002 (267 comp., 34 tds.)
[7.] 3,900, Nic Baker, Rochester, 2017
[8.] 3,855, Brady Huber, Greenville, 2011 (252 of 384)
[8.] 3,855, Tyler Hutchinson, Greenville, 2014 (271 comp, 56 TD)
[10.] 3,848, Jered Shipley, South Beloit, 2002 (236 comp.)
[11.] 3,799, Anthony Maddie, Aurora (A. Christian), 2011 (363 comp, 52 tds, 14
[12.] 3,745, Anthony Maddie, Aurora (Christian), 2011 (363 comp., 52 tds., 14 g
[13.] 3,719, Boone Thorgesen, Maple Park (Kaneland), 2006 (245 comp., 43 td
[14.] 3,686, Jake Christensen, Lockport (Twp.), 2003 (33 td.)
[15.] 3,651, Wes Lunt, Rochester, 2011 (253 comp., 31 tds).
[16.] 3638, Clay Bruno, Rochester, 2019
[17.] 3,578, Brandon Odam, Taylorville, 2018
[18.] 3,540, Drew Clippert, Aurora (Christian), 2017 (249 comp, 36 tds, 10 game
[19.] 3,422, Bradyn Little, Quincy (Sr.)., 2023 (230 comp.; 45 TDs)
[20.] 3,412, Dylan Hayden, Farmington, 2016 (170 comp., 42 tds.)
 
Was that the year that they finished 3rd in the state? LOL
That team was magical

I think that they had 3 1,000+ yards receivers and another that was within 100 yards of being there.

Everyone talks about Brasic, but what did the receivers do after high school?
 
Rochester 2017. 72% completion rate, 3900 yards, 54 TD's, 2 INT's.
2 INTs... that's remarkable.

And of note, I personally witnessed Wes Lunt absolutely dismantle secondary's without breaking a sweat. I'd take them personally over 2017. Who was that main target Lunt had? Zac something? Maybe? That kid was one of the most impressive ball hawks I've seen in person in my life. Dude just found a way to come down the ball seemingly every time it got thrown his way.
 
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2003 Maine South
Most Yards Passing, Season


[1.] 4,751, Sean Price, Park Ridge (Maine South), 2003 (342 comp., 55 td.)
[2.] 4,644, Tim Brasic, Riverside (R.-Brookfield), 2001 (313 of 489)
[3.] 4,216, Tyler Hutchinson, Greenville, 2013 (254 of 472, 43 TDs)
[4.] 4,186, Dylan Ward, Fairbury (Prairie Central), 2003 (270 comp., 46 tds.)
[5.] 4,052, Dusty Burk, Tuscola, 1997
[6.] 3,971, Steve Walker, Lockport (Twp.), 2002 (267 comp., 34 tds.)
[7.] 3,900, Nic Baker, Rochester, 2017
[8.] 3,855, Brady Huber, Greenville, 2011 (252 of 384)
[8.] 3,855, Tyler Hutchinson, Greenville, 2014 (271 comp, 56 TD)
[10.] 3,848, Jered Shipley, South Beloit, 2002 (236 comp.)
[11.] 3,799, Anthony Maddie, Aurora (A. Christian), 2011 (363 comp, 52 tds, 14
[12.] 3,745, Anthony Maddie, Aurora (Christian), 2011 (363 comp., 52 tds., 14 g
[13.] 3,719, Boone Thorgesen, Maple Park (Kaneland), 2006 (245 comp., 43 td
[14.] 3,686, Jake Christensen, Lockport (Twp.), 2003 (33 td.)
[15.] 3,651, Wes Lunt, Rochester, 2011 (253 comp., 31 tds).
[16.] 3638, Clay Bruno, Rochester, 2019
[17.] 3,578, Brandon Odam, Taylorville, 2018
[18.] 3,540, Drew Clippert, Aurora (Christian), 2017 (249 comp, 36 tds, 10 game
[19.] 3,422, Bradyn Little, Quincy (Sr.)., 2023 (230 comp.; 45 TDs)
[20.] 3,412, Dylan Hayden, Farmington, 2016 (170 comp., 42 tds.)
#19 Bradyn Little gets another shot to move up the list this year. Kid's got a cannon. Hopefully his daddy lets him air it out even more this year.
 
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2003 Maine South
Most Yards Passing, Season


[1.] 4,751, Sean Price, Park Ridge (Maine South), 2003 (342 comp., 55 td.)
[2.] 4,644, Tim Brasic, Riverside (R.-Brookfield), 2001 (313 of 489)
[3.] 4,216, Tyler Hutchinson, Greenville, 2013 (254 of 472, 43 TDs)
[4.] 4,186, Dylan Ward, Fairbury (Prairie Central), 2003 (270 comp., 46 tds.)
[5.] 4,052, Dusty Burk, Tuscola, 1997
[6.] 3,971, Steve Walker, Lockport (Twp.), 2002 (267 comp., 34 tds.)
[7.] 3,900, Nic Baker, Rochester, 2017
[8.] 3,855, Brady Huber, Greenville, 2011 (252 of 384)
[8.] 3,855, Tyler Hutchinson, Greenville, 2014 (271 comp, 56 TD)
[10.] 3,848, Jered Shipley, South Beloit, 2002 (236 comp.)
[11.] 3,799, Anthony Maddie, Aurora (A. Christian), 2011 (363 comp, 52 tds, 14
[12.] 3,745, Anthony Maddie, Aurora (Christian), 2011 (363 comp., 52 tds., 14 g
[13.] 3,719, Boone Thorgesen, Maple Park (Kaneland), 2006 (245 comp., 43 td
[14.] 3,686, Jake Christensen, Lockport (Twp.), 2003 (33 td.)
[15.] 3,651, Wes Lunt, Rochester, 2011 (253 comp., 31 tds).
[16.] 3638, Clay Bruno, Rochester, 2019
[17.] 3,578, Brandon Odam, Taylorville, 2018
[18.] 3,540, Drew Clippert, Aurora (Christian), 2017 (249 comp, 36 tds, 10 game
[19.] 3,422, Bradyn Little, Quincy (Sr.)., 2023 (230 comp.; 45 TDs)
[20.] 3,412, Dylan Hayden, Farmington, 2016 (170 comp., 42 tds.)
Really surprised Jon Buejter and the WWS didn't make this list....
 
2 INTs... that's remarkable.

And of note, I personally witnessed Wes Lunt absolutely dismantle secondary's without breaking a sweat. I'd take them personally over 2017. Who was that main target Lunt had? Zac something? Maybe? That kid was one of the most impressive ball hawks I've seen in person in my life. Dude just found a way to come down the ball seemingly every time it got thrown his way.
Zach Grant was Wes's main receiver in 2011. He played at St Ambrose for a year and then several years with Wes at the U of I. Zach now coaches at SIUC.

In the 2011 title game against Richmond Burton, Wes threw for 506 yards and Zach had 259 in receiving. Richmond Burton ran for 516 yards and almost came from behind in a very close 42-39 Rocket win.
 
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There has to be some Rochester and SHG teams mentioned in this conversation since they can put up 40+ points in any game of every year.

Murph, what about St Francis next year? They had a good offense last year.
Like SIU said, on paper this should be a very good passing offense if Palmer is as advertised and Mueller the TE produces at the levels his scholarship offers indicate. You know what you’re getting with Washington, Willis and Miliojevic.

The receiving core is the strength of this year’s team IMO. But the schedule isn’t easy and they’ll have to mesh.
 
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The RB team with Tim Brasic in 2001 was the best high school passing offense I have witnessed. 5000 yards and 62 touchdowns in 12 games.
I think defenses being wildly unaware of how to defend it played a part. We played them the year Otto revealed it, and it was a mystery. We had a 4-3 to start the game ...
 
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I give them a hard time but even though they were nowhere near the teams mentioned but Argo Football. Tom Tomlinson & Lou Weber were fantastic & played both ways. The wins weren’t there but they wore out many a Defense. I was at the game where Tom & Lou set a then state record vs Reavis but lost by 2 touchdowns
 
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I give them a hard time but even though they were nowhere near the teams mentioned but Argo Football. Tom Tomlinson & Lou Weber were fantastic & played both ways. The wins weren’t there but they wore out many a Defense. I was at the game where Tom & Lou set a then state record vs Reavis but lost by 2 touchdowns
Do you recall who was Head Coach during that time? I forget.
 
Do you recall who was Head Coach during that time? I forget.
Tim Feigh. Super super guy. I like him a lot. He had a great Frosh Team in 84 that was coming up but finished 1-8 in 87 that could/should have been 8-1 so he was just over it & left
 
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Zach Grant was Wes's main receiver in 2011. He played at St Ambrose for a year and then several years with Wes at the U of I. Zach now coaches at SIUC.

In the 2011 title game against Richmond Burton, Wes threw for 506 yards and Zach had 259 in receiving. Richmond Burton ran for 516 yards and almost came from behind in a very close 42-39 Rocket win.
Grant... I knew it was Zack at least!

That boy was fun to watch. It's not often a 4A WR is head and shoulders above the rest. That kid was just pure athleticism on display.

I remember the run defense struggling that year and many thought they'd met their match with R-B. Wes was a gamer, and at the 4A level, like many Rochester QBs, he could sit back and make legit reads. Sean Robinson in '09/'10 (somewhere around there) was really one of the first QBs I'd ever seen at the 4A level making adjustments at the line and really dissecting a secondary at will. Granted a lot of that may have been coming from Derek. But he'd walk up, step back, move a couple dudes around, and go. Derek Leonard really ushered in the new style of football long before the smaller schools in Illinois were wanting to. QND had arguably their best teams in program history ( athletically) from 2008-2011. Jokingly and informally known at QND as "the shotgun years" where we nearly completely abandoned our power run offense for wildcat and 4 and 5 wide shotgun sets. We had a very athletically gifted secondary we thought. Rochester's offense absolutely picked them apart at the seams in the 2nd level in 2009 and 2011. 2010 being the infamous game, 23-21 final score @ QND. The closest we ever came to knocking off the giants during the dynasty.
 
IHSA website must not have updated the season passing yards list because it doesn't have:
Tyler Macon had 4241 yds in 2019 for East St. Louis
J.J. McCarthy had 3448 yds in 2018 for Nazareth Academy
 
Last edited:
IHSA website must not have updated the season passing yards list because it doesn't have:
Tyler Macon had 4241 yds in 2019 for East St. Louis
J.J. McCarthy had 3448 yds in 2018 for Nazareth Academy
I may be wrong, but I think anything on the IHSA website needs to be submitted to them. I don't think they officially track anything on their own.
 
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I may be wrong, but I think anything on the IHSA website needs to be submitted to them. I don't think they officially track anything on their own.
Both were in the state game therefore IHSA has the information. I guess there is a specific process that someone has to follow.
 
Took another look and I think the J.J. McCarthy stat is not included in the top 20 because that was from his 247 Sports page and not the IHSA website. 3289 yds in 2018 was submitted to the IHSA website. Title game + season stats submitted before the title game. But the 4241 yds by Tyler Macon was from the IHSA website which would rank him 3rd in season passing yards.
 
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Both were in the state game therefore IHSA has the information. I guess there is a specific process that someone has to follow.
They would have records for that game but I don't think the IHSA actively tracks stats throughout the season.
 
2 INTs... that's remarkable.

And of note, I personally witnessed Wes Lunt absolutely dismantle secondary's without breaking a sweat. I'd take them personally over 2017. Who was that main target Lunt had? Zac something? Maybe? That kid was one of the most impressive ball hawks I've seen in person in my life. Dude just found a way to come down the ball seemingly every time it got thrown his way.
Zack Grant. Currently the Receivers coach at SIU
 
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They would have records for that game but I don't think the IHSA actively tracks stats throughout the season.
You have to submit season stats for the championship program. It’s a requirement.
 
Crazy legs, I know Tommy Tomlinson…a true thrower played softball and hoops worh him and my bro in law Tom Cronin. Played little league at Vittum Park with him. A true athlete. On the smaller side but made plays because of his athleticism. Good call out. #Memories
 
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