Allison Gosnell
Jason Sammons acknowledges a historic night with 434 yards receiving on 15 catches. Four receptions resulted in touchdowns.
File Photo
Sophomore quarterback Jake Smith completed 24 of 39 passes for 601 yards. That was good for 23rd nationally.
Allison Gosnell
Jason Sammons had to sign a National Federation of State High School Association document identifying him as the prolific receiver.
Garrett Mitchell
Jason Sammons shows the hands that set the unofficial South Carolina receiving record for yards gained in a single game.
It was his signature on a game for the ages.
Sammons vaulted into the national record books, catching 15 passes for an eye-popping 434 yards and four touchdowns in last Thursday’s varsity football game against Chapman. It is an unofficial state record since the South Carolina High School League doesn’t maintain a records database.
His yardage is the third most in a single game in U.S. high school history.
"(The record) means a lot. It's very exciting that I would get the chance to do all of that," the soft-spoken Sammons, 5-foot-9, 155-pound junior said.
"I want to give all the glory to God because I wouldn't be able to do it without him. I also want to thank all of my family and friends for keeping me going and pushing me," he said.
Sammons had some help in accomplishing the feat.
Sophomore quarterback Jake Smith completed 24 of 39 passes for 601 yards. That is good for 23rd nationally.
"(Jason) is just one of those players you can look at and know, man, he's got something special," said Smith. "I've trusted him a lot throughout the season, especially with this being my first year. He's got a great talent."
Sammons said he didn't realize what kind of numbers he and Smith were putting up during the game.
"I just kept saying, the next play I've just got to do my best hundred percent," Sammons said. "I can't let down my team. I've got to try and win this game for them."
The Tigers, however, fell to Chapman 52-49.
Only three players stand above Sammons with higher single-game receiving totals.
Sammons surpassed J.D. Felice of Rose Bud, Ark., who had 421 yards in 2008.
Ahead of Sammons are Gehrig Dieter (South Bend Washington, Ind.) with 437 yards, Nate Drew (Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy, Mich.) and Kraig Pruett (Waldport, Ore.) tied with 456 yards.
"This is a real bright spot in a season where we've had a lot of close games not go our way," Clark said. "We've lost some close games and this has brought a lot of excitement to the kids."
Sammons said a good week of practice had he and Smith feeling good about Thursday's game.
"We were just playing normal football. In practice we were just throwing and I guess that night (Jake) felt like, hey, I've got to get Jason the ball. I guess he's feeling on fire," Sammons said.
Smith said that having Sammons as a target has helped him adjust to the role of starter this season.
"It's great to know you have somebody you can count on," Smith said. "To know you have a certain guy who always seems to make those kinds of catches, it really is reassuring."
Sammons said he has received a lot of congratulatory messages.
"I've got a lot of fans and a lot of friends who are out there supporting me," Sammons said. "People here in the community are telling me good job and keep it up."
Sammons’s performance might be hard to duplicate, but it won't be one Blue Ridge fans and players will forget anytime soon.