His team's back against a wall, Jake Fromm made a statement last week with perhaps the finest game of his career in a victory over second-ranked Northside of Warner Robins. Fromm set career highs in passing yards and rushing yards.
A question has been whether Fromm would remain a legitimate player-of-the-year candidate if his team didn't make the playoffs. Fromm showed last week that he won't easily be forgotten, even if his high school career is over in two days.
Fromm is 820 yards behind Hutson Mason's season record for passing yards (4,560) and 430 yards behind Deshaun Watson's career record for passing yards (13,077).
Fromm returns to the top of GHSF Daily's Player of the Year Watch with only days left in the regular season. Houston County must defeat No. 1 Valdosta in a Region 1-AAAAAA game Friday to keep its season alive.
1. QB Jake Fromm, Houston County:Fromm was 28-of-43 passing for a career-high 534 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-35 victory over second-ranked Northside of Warner Robins last week. Fromm rushed for a career-high 119 yards on 19 carries. For the season, Fromm is 225-of-353 passing (63.7 percent) for 3,740 yards and 35 touchdowns with eight interceptions. Houston County is 7-2 and ranked No. 9 in Class AAAAAA. Fromm, who is committed to Georgia, is the consensus No. 4 pro-style quarterback prospect nationally.
2. QB Trevor Lawrence, Cartersville:Lawrence's team was idle last week. For the season, Lawrence is 154-of-250 passing (61.6 percent) for 2,432 yards and 31 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Cartersville is 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class AAAA. Lawrence is the consensus No. 1 junior recruit in the nation.
3. RB Zay Malcome, Westminster:Malcome rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries in a 44-14 victory over Towers last week. On the season, Malcome has rushed for 1,357 yards and 17 touchdowns on 159 carries (8.5 ypc). He has 16 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown. He has returned two kickoffs and one interception for touchdowns. Westminster is 7-2 and ranked No. 3 in Class AAA. Malcome, who stands only 5 feet, 4 inches, has offers from seven Ivy League schools and the three service academies.
4. QB Davis Mills, Greater Atlanta Christian:Mills' team was idle last week. Mills, who missed the first three games because of a knee injury originally thought potentially season-ending, is 86-of-125 passing on the season for 1,331 yards and 20 touchdowns. He has not thrown an interception. GAC is 8-1 and ranked No. 1 in Class AAA. Mills, the consensus No. 1 recruit in Georgia and No. 2 pro-style quarterback prospect nationally, is committed to Stanford.
5. QB K'hari Lane, Macon County:Lane threw five TD passes in a game for the seventh time this season in a 62-0 victory over Central of Talbotton last week. He completed 10 of 11 attempts (one drop) for 200 yards. For the season, Lane is 131-of-207 for 2,552 yards and 40 touchdowns for a 7-2 team that is ranked No. 2 in the Class A public-school division. Lane, list as 6 feet tall by 247Sports, is not yet a major Division I prospect.
6. DB/WR/ATH Richard LeCounte, Liberty County:LeCounte had three receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown, returned a punt 61 yards and had three tackles in a 49-14 victory over Brantley County. On the season, LeCounte has 26 receptions for 559 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has 1,118 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns overall. He has 63 tackles. Liberty County is 8-1 and ranked No. 7 in AAA. LeCounte, the consensus No. 2 prospect in Georgia and No. 26 nationally, is committed to Georgia.
7. QB Tylan Morton, Griffin:Morton's team was idle last week. For the season, Morton is 205-of-280 passing (73.2 percent) for 3,306 yards and 31 touchdowns with six interceptions. Griffin is 8-1 and unranked in Class AAAAA. Morton, a lanky 6 feet, 4 inches, is not yet a major Division I prospect largely for lack of film and exposure.
8. DE Markaviest "Big Cat" Bryant, Crisp County:Bryant had four tackles, two for losses, in a 42-6 victory over Dougherty. For the season, Bryant has 60 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, 23 tackles for losses and 51 QB hurries for a 9-0 team that is ranked No. 5 in Class AAA. Bryant is the consensus No. 22 senior recruit in Georgia.
9. QB Ryan Glover, Woodward Academy:Glover was 11-of-12 passing for 179 yards and two touchdowns in limited action in a 35-6 victory over Druid Hills. For the season, Glover is 116-of-172 passing for 2,230 yards and 27 touchdowns with two interceptions. Woodward Academy is 9-1 and ranked No. 3 in Class AAAA. Glover is committed to Oklahoma State.
10. QB Caylin Newton, Grady:Newton was 17-of-24 passing for 261 yards and two touchdowns in a 15-14 victory over Riverwood. For the season, Newton is 160-of-234 passing (68.4 percent) for 2,609 yards and 27 touchdowns with four interceptions. He has rushed for 692 yards and 11 touchdowns. Grady is 8-1 and ranked No. 7 in Class AAAAA. Newton, who stands about 6 feet, has small-college offers.
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