National Highlight Reel: Brett Bergeson emerges in Minnesota

It could be just physical maturity and confidence, but something has transformed Brett Bergeson into a surprising offensive weapon as a senior at Montevideo (Minn.).

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound quarterback exploded Friday night during a 56-49 victory over previously unbeaten Albany (Minn.) by completing 24 of 40 passes for 502 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. All are school records.

Only two players in Minnesota history have thrown for more yards in a game. The record is 555 and he just missed the No. 2 mark of 505. He also narrowly missed the state touchdown record of eight.

"That was huge," Bergeson said. "I still can't believe it. I really don't look to break individual records. The biggest thing was that we beat the No. 2 team in the state. It could be maturity. We've all been in the weight room and my arm is more developed. We're really determined and have set high goals for ourselves. We've just got to focus on one game at a time."

Coach Dave Vik saw some signs earlier in the year when Bergeson passed for a record 293 yards out of a double-wing offense. He never had a 200-yard game as a junior.

"He's been so accurate," Vik pointed out. "He's a student of the game. He has worked his tail off in the weight room. He watches a lot of film. We have a great receiving corps and offensive line."

Bergeson has led the Class 3A Thunderhawks to a 4-0 record by completing 61 of 100 passes for 1,170 yards and 14 touchdowns. Three of his four interceptions came in one game.

A three-sport standout, Bergeson is a shooting guard in basketball and a shortstop in baseball. He carries a perfect 4.0 GPA and has drawn interest from several Division III coaches for basketball. He still is looking for his first football offer, but they may be coming after his latest performance.

He's definitely going to be a marked man during the rest of the football season.

"They might stay back in their coverage, but if they do, we have a good running back," he pointed out. "We have great offensive weapons all over the place."

* Despite breaking in nine new offensive starters, Kenton (Ohio) senior quarterback Maty Mauk continues his march toward numerous national passing records. Last week he completed 21 of 33 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns during a 36-20 victory over Ottawa-Glandorf (Ottawa, Ohio). He also ran 26 times for 173 yards and three touchdowns. He now has 1,101 completions, just two short of the national record. He moved into third place with 1,737 attempts and 172 touchdowns. He remains third with 15,393 yards.

* Parker Ash passed for 510 yards and seven touchdowns to lead Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas) to a 62-34 victory over John Paul II (Plano, Texas). Six-foot-9 basketball standout Zach Peters snared 17 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns.

* Cornerback Michael Mason broke up seven passes intended for outstanding wide receiver Gehrig Dieter as Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.) defeated Washington (South Bend, Ind.), 17-6. Dieter finished with seven catches for 79 yards and one touchdown.

* Junior quarterback Brice Ramsey (6-3, 190) — a University of Georgia recruit — kicked a 57-yard field goal to help Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.) blank Bradwell Institute (Hinesville, Ga.), 58-0.

* De Anza (Richmond, Calif.) defeated Albany (Calif.), 27-22, to end a 42-game losing streak.

* Kitwana Clark ran 44 times for 351 yards and six touchdowns as Kenowa Hills (Grand Rapids, Mich.) nipped previously unbeaten Holland (Mich.), 56-50, in double overtime.

* Lincoln Park (Mich.) was handed a state-record 48th consecutive loss, 43-0, by Woodhaven (Brownstown, Mich.).

* Southridge (Beaverton, Ore.) outlasted West Salem (Salem, Ore.), 56-55, in triple overtime.

* Jordan Barnes ran for 446 yards and six touchdowns as Van Alstyne (Texas) outscored Farmersville (Texas), 62-55.

* South Medford (Ore.) rolled past Crater (Central Point, Ore.), 42-14, behind senior Jack Singler, who passed for 424 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Matt Retzlaff caught 13 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns.

* Brad Bennett threw for 370 yards and five touchdowns as Century (Hillsboro, Ore.) outscored McMinnville (Ore.), 62-48. Sophomore Gabe Gubrud starred in a losing cause by completing 21 of 40 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns.

* Troy Elliott kicked a school-record 51-yard field goal as Corner (Warrior, Ala.) defeated Locust Park (Ala.), 48-20.

* Northside (Fort Smith, Ark.) defeated Heritage (Rogers, Ark.) in a 70-51 shootout. Kenrick Burns completed 30 of 40 passes for 485 yards and four touchdowns, while also running for three scores. Shaquille Jones caught 14 passes for a school-record 276 yards and scored three times.

* Kingwood Christian (Alabaster, Ala.) standout Montez Haynes caught eight passes for 310 yards and five touchdowns during a 39-36 victory over East Memorial (Prattville, Ala.).

* Leighton Vander Esch passed for 434 yards and six touchdowns as Salmon River (Riggins, Idaho) routed Council (Idaho), 76-30.

* In a battle of undefeated teams, Burke (Omaha, Neb.) edged Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.), 42-35, with both quarterbacks setting school passing records. Burke junior Zach Cook threw for 387 yards and tied the Class A record with six scoring passes. In a losing effort, sophomore Alec Ditoro passed for 390 yards. There were no interceptions on either side.

* Plymouth (N.H.) was nipped by Trinity (Manchester, N.H.), 12-7, ending a 40-game home winning streak that started in 2004.

* Matt Naton completed 14 of 19 passes for 405 yards as West Genesee (Camillus, N.Y.) rolled past Fayetteville-Manlius (Manlius, N.Y.), 44-14.

* Senior Baylor Boone of Cascia Hall (Tulsa, Okla.) intercepted a school-record four passes during a 70-0 rout of Blackwell (Okla.).

* Previously winless Essex (Essex Junction, Vt.) defeated Mt. Mansfield (Jericho, Vt.) 51-19 as Joey Picard passed for 303 yards and a school-record eight touchdowns.

* Jerame Littell completed 27 of 37 passes for 467 yards and five touchdowns as Stillwater (Okla.) nipped Sand Springs (Okla.), 38-37.

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