D’Evelyn quarterback Owen Burke. (Lance Wendt/LanceWendt.com)
D’Evelyn quarterback Owen Burke polished off yet another incredible performance in a 43-42 overtime loss to Lewis-Palmer last Saturday.
Burke’s final line: 41-of-57 for 597 yards and six touchdowns against two interceptions. It was the third 500-yard game of his career. No other player in state history has had more than one 500-yard game. Burke threw for more than 500 yards twice last season, and also threw for 496 two weeks ago.
“Owen worked extremely hard in the offseason to improve his mechanics and overall understanding of reading the progression,” said D’Evelyn coach Jeremy Bennett. “It’s been fun watching this young man work his magic.”
Burke’s 41 completions last week set the state record, breaking the previous record of 39 held by three players, including Fairview’s Johnny Feauto, who tied the mark last season.
The 597 yards are the second-most in state history, behind only the 607 yards Holy Family’s Chris Helbig threw for in September.
Burke’s 57 attempts are the eighth-highest in a single game. The six touchdowns are tied for the 12th-most in state history. He also had seven yards rushing, and so his 604 yards of total offense are the fourth-best mark in history.
Over the past three games, Burke has thrown 13 touchdowns. That figure is the fourth-best.
On top of all of that, Burke is completing passes at a 71.8 percent rate this season, which would place him in the top 5 for a season mark.
Through five games, Burke has thrown for 2,067 yards and 21 touchdowns. The yardage figure is No. 2 in the state in all classifications, and second only to Helbig’s 2,090.
He is on pace to break into the top-10 for season records in touchdowns, completions, and attempts, and should also challenge for the season yardage record of 4,181 set by Bear Creek’s Justin Holland in 1998.