High School Football: Top Quarterbacks excel in early-season victories

The 2025 high school football season is officially underway across the nation and quarterbacks are already stuffing stat sheets.

Many of the top gunslingers have already shaken early-season jitters and are unleashing some impressive throws to get the season highlight reels started. This Friday saw a slew of elite seniors excel on the gridiron.

Rivals is tracking some of the top QB performances across the country each week. Below is a look at who made a splash so far this weekend:

Jared Curtis – Nashville Christian (Tenn.)

Result: 42-41 win vs. Ensworth (Overtime)

As if Curtis’ five-star status was ever in question, he has already cemented his place as one of the top prospects in the 2026 cycle after another landmark performance on Friday night. In a barnburner against Nashville foe Ensworth, Curtis threw for 189 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 131 yards and two more scores. The Georgia commit fired a bullet TD pass to tie the game with just 4 seconds left in regulation, then scored the game winning 2-point conversion to propel the Eagles to a 2-0 start.

Keisean Henderson – Legacy SSS (Texas)

Result: 45-27 win vs. Second Baptist

Official numbers have not yet been confirmed, but Henderson threw for six touchdowns and also busted a 100-yard touchdown run in Legacy’s season-opening victory over Second Baptist. The long run saw the five-star Houston commit break a couple of tackles in his own end zone before wiggling free and dashing down the field for a backbreaking score. The elite dual-threat signal-caller made quite the first impression to begin his senior campaign.

Jonas Williams – Lincoln-Way East (Ill.)

Result: 40-0 win vs. Maine South

Lincoln-Way East has another state title on its mind and Williams, a four-star USC commit, will be the catalyst for the Griffons this fall. He lit up the Maine South defense in his senior opener, hurling for 358 yards and four touchdowns in a breezy 40-0 win. The nation’s No. 10 QB in the 2026 cycle threw for almost 3,000 yards as a junior and will be a handful for opposing defenses in his final prep campaign. Lincoln-Way East is the No. 1 team in Illinois, per the Massey Ratings.

Kavian Bryant – Westwood (Texas)

Result: 54-14 win vs. Mexia

In just one half, Bryant, the No. 1 QB in the 2027 Rivals300, put together a notable stat line. He completed all 18 of his pass attempts and racked up 297 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for a pair of scores as Westwood raced to a season-opening victory. As Bryant’s stock continues to rise this fall, he’ll continue to work through his recruitment and attempt to win a 3A state title. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder is visiting Florida State this weekend.

Jett Thomalla – Millard South (Neb.)

Result: 49-7 win vs. Arbor View (Nev.)

The No. 1 prospect in Nebraska, Thomalla fired 20 completions for 280 yards and five touchdowns in his season-opening win over Las Vegas’ Arbor View. The former Iowa State pledge and current Alabama commit looked dominant as Millard South, ranked No. 1 in the state, guns for another state title. Thomalla threw for over 3,600 yards and nearly 50 touchdowns as a junior.