New York football player sets record for most touchdowns in high school history

Jet, Nov 17, 2003

New York high school football player Mike Hart has rushed his way into the record books. With his elusive running style that reminds some of former Chicago Bears great Gale Sayers, Hart has scored more points (1,094) and more touchdowns (179) than anybody in the history, of high school football.

"It's definitely amazing, but it's pretty cool," the Onondaga High School senior told the Associated Press about his success. "It's just hard work to get bigger, stronger, faster. Plus, I've had great teams."

As his senior year winds down, Hart also holds the national record for consecutive 100-yard games (42), four more than the previous mark set in 1975 by Billy Sims, who won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma and starred for the NFL's Detroit Lions.

"He's an unbelievable kid," Onondaga head football coach Bill Spicer told the Associated Press. "Kids look up to him, and it isn't because of his success. It's just his persona. I don't know if I'll ever see a kid like this again."

University of Michigan coach Lloyd Carr will. Hart committed in April to play next year for the Wolverines, turning down numerous offers from D-I schools such as Notre Dame, Miami, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Michigan State and Syracuse.

At Jet press time Hart, who was scheduled to play five more games if the two-time defending champion Tigers reach the team's third-straight state title game, has 9,555 yards on 807 carries, second of all-time.

Onondaga High School, whose enrollment is 339, dropped football for live years because of a lack of interest. The sport was reinstated in 1998, the year before Hart arrived. Since he's been in the backfield, the Tigers have lost once, are on a 34-game winning streak and now play before packed houses.

Hart, who is 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. Vision and his ability to change direction set him apart, coaches and teammates say. Hart has scored more than 20 points in a game 31 times, including all eight games this year, has averaged 11.8 yards per carry, 227.5 yards per game, 26 points per game in his 42-game career.

Ironically, the numbers could be higher. Because Hart scores so much, games are usually over before halftime and Hart watches a lot from the sidelines. In nine of his games, he's had fewer than 10 carries.