HS quarterback throws for record 10 TDs; opponent has a problem with that

Last week we told you about Will Totten, the McKenzie High (Ore.) quarterback who threw 11 touchdown passes in an 88-80 win over Lowell High in eight-man league competition. But now here comes Lake Nona High (Fla.) quarterback Tucker Israel, who threw for 10 TDs on Friday in a full, 11-man league. That’s a Florida state record, but also came with a large side order of controversy.

Totten threw eight TD passes in the first half, when Lake Nona built a 54-10 lead over Celebration High. That’s when coach Anthony Paradiso decided to go for the state record for TD passes (nine), and to do that, he had to keep his starters in well into the second half, even though the game was a blowout. Lake Nona ended up winning 68-10, with Israel — a freshman, by the way — throwing for 534 yards. Orlando Sentinel:

“I just don’t know why anybody would let their starters play when it’s 60-10,” Celebration coach Ben Aarestad said. “It was 47-10 in the second quarter and he’s using all his time outs in a two-minute drill to score.”

Paradiso said he substituted defensively in the second quarter and pulled most of his offensive starters at some point in an abbreviated second half. The game went to a running clock with Nona leading 54-10 going into the third quarter.

“I understand everybody has their own perception,” Paradiso said. “When you’ve got a kid who has a shot to get a record like that, you’ve got to go for it.”

I could be wrong, but it seems to me that setting a record like that while up by so many points is like trying to extend a hitting streak by bunting for a single while ahead 10-0. Running the two-minute drill while up 47-10? What are you teaching your kids? Well, at least we know where our future Wall Street executives are coming from.

***
A record 10 TD night sparks controversy [Prep Rally]