By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
Airline quarterback Ben Taylor followed a sparkling record-breaking sophomore season with an even bigger junior season in 2023, rewriting the previous records and more.
As remarkable as he was, other local quarterbacks also posted sensational numbers, and some are back for more in 2024 – notably Calvary’s Abram Wardell.
Taylor became the first Viking to pass for more than 400 yards (412 vs. Benton) in a game his sophomore season but surpassed that mark two games into the 2023 season. He passed for 422 yards in the in a 48-44 win over Union Parish. He later broke that mark with 471 yards in a 60-35 winer over Benton.
The signal caller, who last week committed to play collegiately at Northwestern State, led the area in 2023 with 10 games of 300 or more yards. In two years he has recorded 14 of the 17 games an Airline quarterback has passed for more than 300 yards.
Steve Haynes held the Airline single-game record with 393 yards against Captain Shreve in 1972. The big game sparked the Vikings to the 1-AAAA district championship with a 34-20 win over the Gators. They later played for the state championship at Monroe Neville, only to lose 6-0.
Hayden Hildebrand had a pair of 300-yard games in 2012 for the only other 300-yard games in Airline history.
Calvary’s Wardell had the fourth most passing yards in a game in 2023 with 369 yards in a season-opening 47-12 win over Logansport. He ran a very balanced Cavaliers attack that produced an unbeaten state championship season.
Evangel’s Peyton Fulghum had a pair of 300-yard games, while Huntington’s Lorenzo White, and Benton’s Jeff King were the others throw for more than 300.
White is back for his senior season this fall. Evangel and Benton will be breaking in new starters.
2023 top single-game passing yardage
471 – Ben Taylor, Airline, vs. Benton, 18-24-0, 7 TDs, Sept. 21
422 – Ben Taylor, Airline, vs. Union Parish, 27-37-2, 6 TDs, Sept. 8
387 – Ben Taylor, Airline, vs. Mandeville, 35-49-0, 3 TDs, Nov. 24
369 – Abram Wardell, Calvary, vs. Logansport, 22-27-1 3 TDs, Sept. 1
366 – Ben Taylor, Airline, vs. Byrd, 30-39-1, 4 TDs, Oct. 20
364 – Ben Taylor, Airline, vs. Haughton, 23-26-0, 5 TDs, Oct. 12
359 – Ben Taylor, Airline, vs. Captain Shreve, 31-43-2, 2 TDs, Oct. 6
350 – Peyton Fulghum, Evangel, vs. Bossier, 13-17-0, 5 TDs, Sept. 22
340 – Peyton Fulghum, Evangel, vs. Neville, 24-34-1, 4 TDs, Aug.31
337 – Lorenzo White, Huntington, vs. Byrd, 10-22-1, 4 TDs, Sept. 7
321 – Ben Taylor, Airline, vs. Parkway, 34-51-1, 3 TDs, Oct. 27
320 – Ben Taylor, Airline vs. Southwood, 25-31-1, 4 TDs, Nov. 2
315 – Ben Taylor, Airline, vs. North DeSoto, 32-46-0, 4 TDs, Sept. 1
311 – Ben Taylor, Airline, vs. Natch. Central, 21-36-1, 4 TDs, Sept. 29
310 – Abram Wardell, Calvary, vs Captain Shreve, 19-26-0, 4 TDs, Sept. 7
305 – Jeff King, Benton, vs. Byrd, 24-33-2, 3 TDs, Sept. 28
298 – Christian Turner, Haughton, vs. Byrd, 17-36-1, 2 TDs, Oct. 6
295 – Ben Taylor, Airline, vs. Southside, 23-26-1, 2 TDs, Nov. 17
283 – Lorenzo White, Huntington, vs. Mansfield,16-28-2, 4 TDs, Sept. 1
275 – Kaleb Williams, Parkway, vs. Captain Shreve, 23-36-1, 1 TD, Sept. 29
260 – Brodie Savage, Captain Shreve, vs. Byrd, 15-25-0, 2 TDs, Sept. 21
258 – Ben Taylor, Airline, vs. Northwood, 20-24-0, 5 TDs, Sept. 15