Did Local Football Player Have Best Defensive Performance in History?

A freshman at Capistrano Valley Christian may have turned in the greatest single-game defensive performance in high school football history earlier this month.

Ben Sukut, a freshman defensive back, intercepted four passes and returned all of them for touchdowns in the final San Joaquin League game against Southlands Christian on Nov. 1.

According to MaxPreps, Sukut returned an interception 103 yards in the first quarter, and had scoring returns of 36, 32 and 47 yards in the second as Capo Valley Christian scored 41 points in the second quarter.

That's right, Sukut did all that in just one half.

If it wasn't the best performance ever by a defensive player, it was among the best.

“Never in the history of high school football has any young man intercepted four passes in one game and returned all four for touchdowns,” according to a school weekly newsletter. 

MaxPreps reported it is likely true, even though that precise statistic has not been keenly watched over the years.

“The national record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns in a single season is six,” according to MaxPreps. “Sukut tied that record this year. The NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) also tracks the most interceptions returned for touchdowns in a quarter (2), but not in a game.”

Sukut's three interception returns for a touchdown in the quarter would also be a national record.

MaxPreps says that the performance may very well put Sukut in the running for National Freshman of the Year honors.

See video of Sukut’s potentially national, record-setting game here.

Oh, and the score that game? Capo Valley Christian 55, Southlands Christian, 14. Sakut scored five TDs total, including a 1-yard run.

Despite the big performance in the season finale, the Eagles (8-3 overall, 4-1 in league) were beaten in the first round of the Southern Section Northeast Division playoffs, 74-7, by Los Angeles Salesian.