Quarterback Jake Fromm is widely known across Georgia. He starred at Houston County High School, was rated as a high four-star prospect, and was one of the subjects of Netflix’s “QB1: Under the Lights” alongside Tate Martell and Tayvon Bowers.
Though he now plays for the NFL’s Washington Commanders, Fromm is best known for his successful three-year stint with the Georgia Bulldogs. Lost among all that attention, however, is a record-breaking run by Fromm to open his senior year of high school. It’s time to revisit that masterclass.
Fromm’s Bears failed to reach the postseason in his senior year after losing three of their last four games. However, they began the season undefeated in their first five games. Against eventual 4A semifinalist Mary Persons in the season opener, Fromm put on a show. He passed for all 4 of his team’s touchdowns and posted 412 yards with a better than 70% completion rate in a 26-14 victory. Future UGA teammate Malik Herring could muster one only sack on the quick-triggered Fromm.
Next up was a date with Peach County. The Trojans would go on to reach the 3A semifinals, but not before their pass defense was picked apart by Fromm. He had a banner day, recording 454 passing yards and 4 touchdowns to accompany yet another 70% completion performance. A 14-14 tie at halftime rapidly turned into a shootout, and Houston County won 49-31.
In the Bears’ next three games, Fromm would only get better. Against Eagle’s Landing, he passed for 510 yards and 4 scores, then he threw for 466 yards and a whopping 7 touchdowns a week later against Veterans. Lastly, against Warner Robins, Houston County scored 63 points in a rout fueled by nearly 400 passing yards and 6 TD passes by Fromm.
According to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association, Fromm’s performance against Eagle’s Landing ranks him in 20th place all-time in terms of single-game passing yards. His 13 passing touchdowns in back-to-back weeks place him within the top five. He was the only quarterback to notch more than one 400-yard passing performance in 2016, and he had five in total (with four coming in consecutive weeks to open the season). Fromm was also the only player to have multiple games with at least 6 passing touchdowns in that season.
Fromm’s dominance at the high school level is well-recognized, but this five-game streak often ends up overshadowed by his team’s late-season struggles. His consistency on a game-to-game basis, including against two future state semifinalists, may be second to none in Georgia passing history across that span.
Fromm completed his senior year at Houston County with 3,910 passing yards and 41 touchdowns at the 6A level, facilitating two 1,000-yard receivers in the process. And it started with a legendary run that began to open that 2016 campaign.
