Bagdad quarterback Israel Loveall sets Arizona state TD passing mark in blowout of NFL Yet
Bagdad quarterback Israel Loveall is the new high school touchdown king in the state of Arizona after topping the record for career touchdown passes Friday night during a 68-22 win over Phoenix NFL YET College Prep Academy in an 8-man football game.
Loveall entered the night five touchdowns behind Chase Cord's 137 career touchdowns thrown at Peoria Sunrise Mountain from 2013 to 2016.
In the second quarter, Lovell rolled to his left and fired downfield for a 23-yard touchdown to Kaylab Owings that was his sixth touchdown of the night and moved him ahead of Cord.
At halftime, Loveall had seven touchdown passes, which would end up being his final tally for the night as the Bagdad offense slowed down and ran out the clock in the second half to improve to 6-0.
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) lists Bo Savage of Central Burden High School in Burden, Kansas, as the record holder in career touchdown passes in 8-man football with 143. After Friday, Loveall is now four behind that mark.
Standout performer
Bagdad QB Israel Loveall: It really couldn't be anyone else. The senior diced up the NFL YET defense during his record-setting, seven-touchdown night and even contributed on defense with a sack that forced a punt in the first quarter.
Other standouts
Bagdad TE/DE Rio Delgado: The 6-1 senior caught two of the seven touchdown passes from Loveall and then scored Bagdad's only touchdown of the second half when he dropped into coverage on defense and hauled in an interception he returned about 40 yards for a touchdown.
Bagdad WR Scott Finnerty: Another beneficiary of Loveall's night was Finnerty, Bagdad's No. 1 receiver who was on the receiving end of the three of the touchdown passes.
Quotes of the game
Loveall didn't take all the credit for his career touchdown passing record. “It's definitely a testament to what we've been able to do the last three years,” he said. "Just what we've been able to accomplish altogether as an offense, especially that I've been blessed with great receivers every year."
Stat of the game
Loveall has 30 touchdowns through six games. His 59 passing touchdowns in 11 games during the 2016 season is the state record for a single season.
Up next
Bagdad will attempt to stay undefeated when the team hosts Salome next week. NFL YET will have a chance to bounce back and improve on its 1-4 record when the team hosts Winkleman Hayden.
