GAINESVILLE — When Deshaun Watson walked off the Halford Stadium field in DeKalb County after his final snap as a Gainesville High quarterback in 2013, he owned not just every school passing record, but was also Georgia’s all-time leader in yards (13,077), touchdowns (155), passes completed (939), and passes attempted (1,458).
Those numbers looked untouchable -- much as Lou Gehrig's games-played streak once appeared for Major League Baseball.
As we know, along came Cal Ripken. But Gehrig's streak took 56 years to fall. Meanwhile, Trevor Lawrence is eclipsing Watson's towering numbers after just four years.
The Cartersville senior, in a 62-0 rout of Chapel Hill two weeks ago, overhauled Watson’s passing yards and now sits at 13,260 -- and Cartersville may have six games left on its schedule should it defend its two-time state crown again. When Lawrence and the Hurricanes take the field against Troup on Friday -- barring injury or some unforeseen catastrophe -- Watson’s touchdown record is sure to fall. Lawrence sits just one back (154).
To break Watson’s passes completed and attempts records, Lawrence, who is 804 of 1,263 for his career, would have to go 135 of 195 over the rest of the season -- however long that may last. But he is averaging just 20 attempts a game, a pace that would leave him well short even if he reaches the championship game.
Gainesville coach Bruce Miller, who has seen Lawrence a handful of times in person, said he’s not surprised to see Watson’s records fall -- even if It has been just one full senior class cycle since Watson graduated.
“Well, records are made to be broken so I figured it would happen eventually,” Miller said. “Trevor is a good quarterback and he has a lot of good players around him, just like Deshaun did. Am I surprised it happened this fast? That’s hard to say. The game is different even from when Deshaun played in that so many teams run this type of offense now. But you have to be a good fit to make it work.”
Watson had seasons of 13, 14, 15, and 14 games in his four years. Believe it or not, all of his records might have fallen last season. Yet Jake Fromm, now the starter for the University of Georgia, saw his senior campaign cut short in a first round postseason loss. Fromm finished with 12,745 yards, 116 touchdowns, and was 827 of 1,360 for his career. However, he played in just six playoff games in four years compared to 16 for Watson and 14 so far for Lawrence.
Lawrence had the better freshman year with 3,053 yards and 26 touchdowns in 14 games in 2014 compared to 2,088 yards and 17 TDs for Watson in 13 games in 2010. Watson had the bigger single season when he posted 4,024 yards and 50 TDs as a junior. Lawrence’s best season so far was 3,904 yards and 51 TDs in his junior year.
Lawrence has averaged 250 yards a game for his career, compared to 233 yards a game for Watson.
Despite all the assaults on Watson's records, it clearly requires some special concoction to make it all come together.
“First, you have to be able to play as a freshman and be able to play a whole season,” Miller said. “Then you have to be fortunate enough to stay healthy the whole time, all four years. Then, you have to have extended seasons, which we did when Deshaun was here. Obviously you see that it can be done. But I think all of those things have to happen.”
Though it was unfair to ask Watson’s former coach who was better, he did offer a scouting report of both.
“I don’t really know if you can compare the two, apples-to-apples so to speak,” Miller said. “Trevor is a pure passer. He doesn’t seem to run much [643 rushing yards, 12.1 yards per game] but he hasn’t really had to. Deshaun is a dual-threat guy that can beat you with his arm and feet [4,057 yards rushing, 72.4 ypg]. If I had to try and defend either one I would go home.
“Seriously, the only way to beat them is to shorten the game as much as possible. And even when you do, like Alabama last year, you can still leave a guy like Deshaun one second too many.”
But Miller said the biggest intangible for both has nothing to do with athletic ability or supporting cast.
“I know Deshaun is all about team. He didn’t say much when he broke the records and I bet Trevor is the same way. As long as the team was winning Deshaun was happy. Trevor is probably the same way in that he couldn’t care less about the records as long as the team is winning,” Miller said.
Watson has since moved on to the NFL and the Houston Texans and is continuing right where he left off in high school and college -- setting records and winning games. He had 15 touchdown passes in his first six games, a new NFL rookie record, and added four more last week against the Seattle Seahawks.
Was Miller surprised that Watson, who was coming off a National Championship with Clemson, was not taken higher than the 12th overall pick by the Texans after trading with the Cleveland Browns, who owned the No. 1 pick?
“You never know what the pro teams are looking for. I thought he was the best quarterback for sure,” Miller said. “All I know is that he knows how to win. All the good ones have that in common.”
When asked, Miller did not hesitate about who he would want on his sidelines, records or no records.
“I’ll take Deshaun. I will always take my guy,” he said. “I know what Deshaun can do and he never let me or his team down. It was nice to know we had the guy with all the records. But like I said, records are made to be broken.
“But this I know. No matter how long you coach, you’re blessed when you get a chance to coach just one player like a Deshaun Watson or a Trevor Lawrence. I’m blessed, that’s all I can say.”
