If not for COVID-19, there may have been a new national single season touchdowns leader. Jonathon Brooks of Hallettsville (Texas) scored 70 touchdowns — two short of the national record — while leading his team to the UIL Class 3A Division 1 championship game, where the Brahmas lost to Jim Ned 29-28. However, a forfeit win over Hempstead could have resulted in Brooks breaking the record.
Brooks scored 39 touchdowns during the regular season and added 31 in the postseason. Scheduled to play Hempstead on Oct. 9, Hallettsville received a forfeit win instead when Hempstead was unable to field a team due to coronavirus regulations. Hempstead finished 0-8 and gave up an average of 50 points a game in the seven games it played. Brooks averaged just under five touchdowns a game with a high of nine in a playoff win over Lorena.
Kazmeir Allen of Tulare Union (Calif.) set the record in 2017 with 72 touchdowns. T.A. McLendon of Albemarle (N.C.) had held the record for 16 years after scoring 71 in 2001. Brooks is tied with three other players — Johnathan Gray of Aledo (Texas), Kellen Overstreet of Penney (Hamilton, Mo.) and Charlie Spegal of New Palestine (Ind.) — at 70.
Only six players have held the national single season touchdown record over the past 100 years. Cully Berndt of Toledo Waite (Ohio) in 1921 is believed to be the first player to score over 50 touchdowns in a season with 51. Dick Todd of Crowell (Texas) broke Berndt's record with 53 in 1934. Ken Hall of Sugarland (Texas) then scored 57 in 1953. Hall held the record for 35 years until Brett Law of Sheridan (Ind.) scored 66 in 1988. McLendon broke Law's record in 2001 and Allen followed in 2017.
Sources for the list of most touchdowns in a single season include the National Federation of High Schools Record Book, state association record books, Joe Lee Smith's Texas High School Football History, Georgia High School Football Historians Association website, Cal-Hi Sports Record Book and Almanac by Mark and Nelson Tennis and the MaxPreps leaderboards.
Jonathon Brooks, Hallettsville
Photo by Tommy Hays
1. 72 — Kazmeir Allen,
Tulare Union (Calif.), 2017
2. 71 — T.A. McLendon,
Albemarle (N.C.), 2001
3. 70 — Johnathan Gray,
Aledo (Texas), 2011
3. 70 — Kellen Overstreet,
Penney (Hamilton, Mo.), 2014
3. 70 — Charlie Spegal,
New Palestine (Ind.), 2018
3. 70 — Jonathon Brooks,
Hallettsville (Texas), 2020
7. 68 — Arkeel Newsome,
Ansonia (Conn.), 2013
8. 67 — Michael Hart,
Onondaga (Nedrow, N.Y.), 2003
8. 67 — Dominick Bragalone,
South Williamsport (Pa.), 2014
10. 66 — Zach Barket,
Schuylkill Haven (Pa.), 2008
10. 66 — Brett Law,
Sheridan (Ind.), 1988
10. 66 — DeShawn Smith,
Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville, Fla.), 2015
13. 64 — Levi Ferguson,
North Mahaska (New Sharon, Iowa), 2005
13. 64 — Sheldon Wilson,
Anadarko (Okla.), 2011
13. 64 — Tyler Ebell,
Ventura (Calif.), 2000
16. 63 — Josh Smith,
Attica (Ind.), 2000
16. 63 — Kellen Overstreet, Penney (Hamilton, Mo.), 2013
16. 63 — Jacob Sharp,
Central (Salina, Kan.), 2005
19. 62 — Darren Evans,
Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.), 2006
19. 62 — Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia (Conn.), 2011
21. 61 — Johnathan Gray, Aledo (Texas), 2010
21. 61 — Joseph Sadler,
Devine (Texas), 2011
21. 61 — Elijah Davis,
Heritage (Lynchburg, Va.), 2017
24. 60 — DJ Foster,
Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 2011
24. 60 — Michael Hart, Onondaga (Nedrow, N.Y.), 2002
24. 60 — Sean Shafar,
Bedford (Iowa), 1998
24. 60 — Markell Jones,
Columbus East (Columbus, Ind.), 2014
28. 59 — DeShaun Foster,
Tustin (Calif.), 1997
28. 59 — Johnathan Gray, Aledo (Texas), 2009
28. 59 — Lee Witherspoon,
North Jackson (Stevenson, Ala.), 2018
28. 59 — Nyheim Miller-Hines,
Garner Magnet (Garner, N.C.), 2013
28. 59 — Kevin Parks,
West Rowan (Mt. Ulla, N.C.), 2009
33. 58 — Roshauud Paul,
Bremond (Texas), 2016
33. 58 — Christian Hunter,
Kaiser (Fontana, Calif.), 2018
33. 58 — Washaun Ealey,
Emanuel County Institute (Twin City, Ga.), 2007
33. 58 — Ivory Winters,
Hayti (Mo.), 2018
37. 57 — Ken Hall, Sugarland (Texas), 1953
37. 57 — Jake Taylor,
Rim of the World (Lake Arrowhead, Calif.), 2012
37. 57 — Edgar Segura,
Mendota (Calif.), 2013
37. 57 — Daniel Bangura,
Harvest Prep (Canal Winchester, Ohio), 2016
37. 57 — Jake Funk,
Damascus (Md.), 2015
42. 56 — Chad Kackert,
Brethren Christian (Huntington Beach, Calif.), 2004
42. 56 — Sy Hairston,
Banning (Calif.), 2012
42. 56 — Willie Mack Garza,
Refugio (Texas), 1987
42. 56 — David Overstreet,
Big Sandy (Texas), 1975
42. 56 — Eric Melesio,
Norte Vista (Riverside, Calif.), 2016
42. 56 — Braedon Sloan,
Wayne County (Monticello, Ky.), 2019
42. 56 — Marquael Parks,
Orrville (Ohio), 2018
49. 55 — Derrick Henry,
Yulee (Fla.), 2012
49. 55 — Andrew Brown,
Ripon Christian (Ripon, Calif.), 2013
49. 55 — Terry Gilbreath,
Wellington (Texas), 2013
49. 55 — Jackson Anthrop,
Lafayette Central Catholic (Lafayette, Ind.), 2015
49. 55 — Jacardia Wright,
St. Teresa (Decatur, Ill.), 2018
49. 55 — Quinton Cooley,
Southern Nash (Bailey, N.C.), 2019
49. 55 — Charlie Spegal, New Palestine (Ind.), 2019
