Trivia question: Which quarterback has thrown for the most passing yards in a season for Brighton?
Most people would guess Drew Henson. And they’d be wrong.
Henson is actually third on the school and Livingston County list for passing yards in a season, surpassed within a few years by Cullen Finnerty, then T.J. VanDoren. Henson does still hold all of the county’s career passing records.
Brighton’s records are easy to find, because past coaches did a good job of submitting them to the Michigan High School Athletic Association for its list of records. Most are not. It requires digging through old all-county articles and perusing countless game stories that were published by the Livingston Daily and its predecessors.
And as thorough as I tried to be throughout the process of compiling Livingston County’s football records, I know there will be some gaps. But this is as good a start as any, one which I want to get published and out in the public as I head off into retirement. Some of these records could be threatened by current players, so it’s important that this information is out there.
The number that I would love to get locked down is Ray Tyle’s career rushing total at Fowlerville in the 1990s. His statistics were published his final three years, but he was on varsity as a freshman and would have some numbers to add to his total. It’s possible he’s the county’s all-time leading rusher if he had a solid enough freshman year.
If you know of any omissions and have documented proof, email them to me at billkhan35@gmail.com and I’ll update this list and forward it to my successor.
Most career passing yards
5,662, Drew Henson, Brighton, 1995-97
Most passing yards in a season
2,510, T.J. VanDoren, Brighton, 2005
2,312, Cullen Finnerty, Brighton, 1999
2,305, Drew Henson, Brighton, 1997
2,072, Drew Henson, Brighton, 1996
1,999, Buck West, Pinckney, 2013
1,959, Grant Hetherton, Brighton, 2023
1,936, Lawerence Wells, Brighton, 2024
1,801, Chris Cagle, Hartland, 2008
1,750, Josh Hess, Pinckney, 2014
1,747, Jack Wurzer, Pinckney, 2017
1,679, Dom D’Agosta, Brighton, 2025
1,608, Ryan Brennan, Howell, 2016
1,590, Joe Bona, Pinckney, 2019
1,587, Colby Newburg, Brighton, 2019
1,581, Matt Hornyak, Howell, 2018
1,507, Sam Shrader, Fowlerville, 2025
1,506, Colin McKernan, Brighton, 2021
Most passing yards in a game
450, Cullen Finnerty, Brighton, vs. Grand Ledge, Oct. 30, 1999
383, Lawrence Wells, Brighton, vs. Plymouth, Oct. 11, 2024
364, Greg Cauley, Howell, vs. Rockford, Nov. 13, 2010
364, Nick Ross, Fowlerville, vs. Corunna, Oct. 12, 2012
361, Brandon Leach, Pinckney, vs. Howell, Sept. 18, 2015
349, Drew Henson, Brighton, vs. Walled Lake Western, Nov. 7, 1997
347, Dan Richmond, Hartland, vs. Milford, Sept. 25, 2009
343, Grant Hetherton at Northville, Oct. 27, 2023
331, Grant Hetherton at Canton, Sept. 29, 2023
327, Buck West, Pinckney, vs. Hartland, Sept. 27, 2013
Most career touchdown passes
52, Drew Henson, Brighton, 1995-97
Most touchdown passes in a season
26, Drew Henson, Brighton, 1997
24, T.J. Van Doren, Brighton, 2005
22, Lawrence Wells, Brighton, 2024
21, Cullen Finnerty, Brighton, 1999
20, Stephen Milarch, Hartland, 2010
20, Colby Newburg, Brighton, 2019
20, Sam Shrader, Fowlerville, 2025
19, Buck West, Pinckney, 2013
19, Josh Hess, Pinckney, 2014
18, Jack Wurzer, Pinckney, 2017
17, Jon Mack, Howell, 1978
17, Joe Bona, Pinckney, 2019
Most touchdown passes in a game
6, Drew Henson, Brighton, vs. Hartland, Oct. 10, 1997
5, Cullen Finnerty, Brighton, vs. Grand Ledge, Oct. 29, 1999
5, T.J. VanDoren, Brighton, vs. Rockford, Nov. 19, 2005
5, Chris Cagle, Hartland, vs. Livonia Churchill, Aug. 28, 2008
5, Stephen Milarch, Hartland, vs. Westland John Glenn, Aug. 30, 2012
5, Stephen Milarch, Hartland, vs. Walled Lake Northern, Oct. 12, 2012
5, Dominic Bona, Pinckney, vs. Howell, Sept. 16, 2011
5, Brady Raymond, Pinckney, vs. Ann Arbor Pioneer, Oct. 21, 2022
Most passes in a game
58, Drew Henson, Brighton vs. Walled Lake Western, Nov. 16, 1996
53, Pat Doyle, Pinckney vs. Novi, Oct. 6, 2000
Most career rushing yards
4,072, Joey Clifford, Brighton, 2013-15
3,658, Ray Tyle, Fowlerville, 1995-97*
3,369, David Hibner, Howell, 1974-76
3,354, Joe Carpenter, Howell, 1997-99
2,983, Justin Jones, Howell, 2022-24
2,922, Bryce Lindberg, Howell (453 carries, 31 TD), 2007-09
2,706, John Selby, Hartland (38 TD), 1976-78
2,655, Joey Mattord, Hartland (386 carries, 32 TD), 2020-22
*-Missing totals from freshman year
Most rushing yards in a season
2,030, Ray Tyle, Fowlerville, 1997
1,800, Adam Powell, Fowlerville, 2006
1,780, Seth Simpson, Fowlerville, 1991
1,735, Justin Jones, Howell, 2024
1,659, Joey Clifford, Brighton, 2015
1,589, David Hibner, Howell, 1976
1,571, Bryce Lindberg, Howell, 2009
1,557, Gary Schultheis, Fowlerville, 1989
1,489, Dom Nauss, Brighton, 2025
1,458, Shane Dokey, Brighton, 2011
1,448, Darin Ries, Hartland, 1980
1,383, Chad Hunt, Hartland, 2010
1,329, Colby Newburg, Brighton, 2019 (QB)
1,322, Joey Mattord, Hartland, 2022
Most rushing yards in a game
326, Ryan Brennan, Howell, vs. Grand Blanc, Sept. 30, 2016
319, Ray Tyle, Fowlerville, vs. Williamston, Sept. 26, 1997
308, Darin Ries, Hartland, vs. Grayling, Sept. 5, 1980
305, Seth Simpson, Fowlerville, vs. Portland, Sept. 20, 1991
299, Ray Tyle, Fowlerville, vs. Portland, Oct. 17, 1997
296, Joey Clifford, Brighton, at Hartland, Oct. 4, 2013
296, Joey Mattord, Hartland, vs. Howell (29 carries), Oct. 1, 2021
285, Joey Mattord, Hartland, vs. Salem (12 carries), Sept. 16, 2022
284, Charlie Anderson, Hartland, vs. Northville (12 carries), Oct. 9, 2020
262, Mark Welser, Pinckney, vs. Chelsea, Oct. 31, 1980
260, Joey Clifford, Brighton, vs. Waterford Kettering, Oct. 17, 2014
258, Joey Mattord, Hartland, vs. Northville (29 carries), Oct. 8, 2021
251, Chad Hunt, Hartland, vs. Ypsilanti Lincoln (34 carries), Oct. 22, 2010
250, Drew Mixter, Hartland, vs. Ypsilanti (26 carries), Oct. 21, 2005
Most career rushing touchdowns
50, Joey Clifford, Brighton, 2013-15
Most rushing touchdowns in a season
27, Justin Jones, Howell, 2024
24, Joey Clifford, Brighton, 2015
24, Bryce Lindberg, Howell, 2009
21, Shane Dokey, Brighton, 2011
19, Bryce Lindberg, Howell, 2009
18, Colby Newburg, Brighton, 2019
17, Jesse Saunders, Fowlerville, 2003
17, Levi Collins, Pinckney, 2017
17, Sal Patierno, Pinckney, 2019
17, Joey Mattord, Hartland, 2022
Most rushing touchdowns in a game
6, Chad Hunt, Hartland, vs. Ann Arbor Skyline, Aug. 27, 2010
6, Joey Clifford, Brighton vs. Waterford Kettering, Oct. 17, 2014
5, Colby Newburg, Brighton, vs. East Kentwood, Nov. 8, 2019
5, Bryce White, Pinckney, vs. Ypsilanti, Oct. 8, 2021
5, Joey Mattord, Hartland, vs. Plymouth, Sept. 23, 2022
5, Nic Honeycutt, Hartland, at Dearborn, Oct. 24, 2025
Most career receiving yards
2,364, Nolan Carruthers, Pinckney, 2022-24
1,635, Caleb Wardlow, Pinckney, 2019-21
1,511, Justin Eagy, Pinckney, 2012-14
1,448, Zach Nichols, Brighton, 2004-05
1,326, Steve Schaft, Brighton, 1996-97
Most receiving yards in a season
969, Jason Morton, Pinckney, 2002
923, Steve Schaft, Brighton, 1997
902, Justin Eagy, Pinckney, 2014
897, Sebastian Boyea, Brighton, 2024
878, Zach Nichols, Brighton, 2005
838, Nick Wasyl, Pinckney, 2013
802, Nick Cain, Pinckney, 2017
704, Brian Moran, Fowlerville, 2012
Most receiving yards in a game
274, Jason Morton, Pinckney vs. Lakeland, Sept. 27, 2002
262, Sebastian Boyea, Brighton, vs. Plymouth, Oct. 11, 2024
248, Jason Morton, Pinckney vs. Lansing Catholic, Oct. 26, 2002
233, Jim Reese, Brighton, vs. Grand Ledge, Oct. 29, 1999
210, Steve Schaft, Brighton, vs. Walled Lake Western, Nov. 7, 1997
207, Steve Schaft, Brighton, vs. Milford, Oct. 17, 1997
203, Nolan Carruthers, Pinckney, vs. Chelsea, Nov. 1, 2024
Most career catches
185, Nolan Carruthers, Pinckney, 2022-24
105, Zach Nichols, Brighton, 2004-05
89, Sebastian Boyea, Brighton, 2023-24
73, Caleb Wardlow, Pinckney, 2019-21
Most catches in a season
78, Zach Nichols, Brighton, 2005
68, Nolan Carruthers, Pinckney, 2023
58, Nolan Carruthers, Pinckney, 2024
55, Nolan Carruthers, Pinckney, 2022
53, Jason Morton, Pinckney, 2002
53, Vonn Jones, Hartland, 2008
52, Mike Gle, Brighton, 1996
51, Sebastian Boyea, Brighton, 2024
48, Brian Moran, Fowlerville, 2012
47, Andy Doupe, Pinckney, 2001
47, Nick Wasyl, Pinckney, 2013
47, Justin Eagy, Pinckney, 2014
Most catches in a game
16, Nolan Carruthers, Pinckney, at Jackson, Sept. 15, 2023
14, Greg Matthyssen, Hartland, vs. Lakeland, Sept. 7, 2007
13, Jason Morton, Pinckney vs. Lakeland, Sept. 27 2002
12, Zach Nichols, Brighton, vs. Rockford, Nov. 19, 2005
12, Vonn Jones, Hartland, vs. Howell, Oct. 3, 2008
12, Brian Moran, Fowlerville, vs. Corunna, Oct. 12, 2012
11, Jason Morton, Pinckney at Lansing Catholic, Oct. 26, 2002
11, Caleb Wardlow, Pinckney, vs. Dexter, Oct. 11, 2019
11, Nolan Carruthers, Pinckney, vs. Chelsea, Nov. 1, 2024
Most career touchdown catches
25, Caleb Wardlow, Pinckney, 2019-21
22, Nolan Carruthers, Pinckney, 2022-24
21, Steve Schaft, Brighton, 1996-97
19, Justin Eagy, Pinckney, 2012-14
15, Zach Nichols, Brighton, 2004-05
15, Sebastian Boyea, Brighton, 2023-24
Most touchdown catches in season
14, Steve Schaft, Brighton, 1997
13, Nick Cain, Pinckney, 2017
13, Sebastian Boyea, Brighton, 2024
11, Jon Madden, Howell, 2003
11, Zach Nichols, Brighton, 2005
11, Justin Eagy, Pinckney, 2014
11, Logan Russo, Howell, 2016
11, Caleb Wardlow, Pinckney, 2021
10, Mike Brown, Howell, 1978
10, Max Berish, Pinckney, 2025
9, Joe Lane, Fowlerville, 2006
9, Bryan Ridley, Hartland, 2012
9, Nolan Carruthers, Pinckney, 2024
9, Jamo Parsell, Brighton, 2025
8, Gary Kenroy, Fowlerville, 1967
8, Greg Landry, Brighton, 1999
8, Mike Ryan, Howell, 2006
8, Caleb Wardlow, Pinckney, 2020
8, Dylan Soli, Fowlerville, 2025
Touchdown catches in a game
4, Bryan Ridley, Hartland, vs. Westland John Glenn, Oct. 30, 2012
Longest touchdown catch
99, Max Berish, Pinckney, from Easton McGlothin vs. Adrian, Sept. 19, 2025
Most interceptions in a season
9, Adam Greenman, Pinckney, 1995
9, Sam Clay, Hartland, 2021
7, Alex Wasyl, Pinckney, 2017
Interceptions in a game
3, Alex Wasyl, Pinckney, vs. Ann Arbor Skyline, Oct. 13, 2017
Interceptions for touchdowns in a game
2, Shane Sovik, Howell, vs. Salem, Sept. 28, 2018
Most field goals in season
11, Scott Greene, Hartland, 1999
9, Jay Jandasek, Brighton, 2005
8, Craig Heger, Howell, 2007
8, Braeden Chiles, Brighton, 2022
7, Adam Schiller, Hartland, 2010
7, Nathan Dibert, Hartland, 2021
Longest field goals
53, Craig Heger, Howell, vs. Novi, Sept. 14, 2007
53, Nathan Dibert, Hartland, vs. Northville, Oct. 8, 2021
53, Braeden Chiles, Brighton, vs. Northville, Sept. 8, 2023
52, Scott Greene, Hartland, vs. Lakeland, Oct. 1, 1999
52, Jay Jandasek, Brighton, vs. Rockford, Aug. 27, 2004
52, Nathan Dibert, Hartland, vs. Howell, Oct. 1, 2021
51, Nathan Dibert, Hartland, vs. Novi, Sept. 2, 2021
50, Nathan Dibert, Hartland, vs. Belleville, Oct. 2, 2021
Contact Bill Khan at billkhan35@gmail.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Record book: Livingston County football top performances