Holy Cross senior Dae’Sean Graves is barreling into his final high school season with a chance to etch his name into the state record books, potentially becoming Connecticut’s career triple crown record holder for wide receivers before heading to UConn next fall. This kid isn’t just good, he’s on the brink of legendary status.
The Records He’s About to Shatter
Graves isn’t just chasing one record; he’s got three squarely in his sights. He already boasts an impressive 2,698 receiving yards, 176 career catches, and 43 receiving touchdowns. To claim the career receiving yards record of 3,871, held by Joey Montalvo, Graves needs another 1,174 yards. For Montalvo’s receptions record of 226, he’s just 51 catches away. And for the big one, the career receiving touchdowns record of 50, set by Alex Jamele back in 2013, Graves needs a mere 8 more scores. Think about that for a second. Eight touchdowns to become the all-time leading scorer.
The crazy part? This isn’t some long shot. Over the last two seasons, Graves averaged 77 receptions, 1,182 yards, and 19 touchdowns. If he hits those numbers again, he’s not just breaking one record, he’s snatching all three. Graves isn’t shying away from the spotlight either, declaring, “I honestly feel like I could be and I will be one of the best receivers in the state this season.” He’s even aiming for the receiving record once held by Aaron Hernandez, which was beaten last year, showing his hunger for ultimate bragging rights.
Team Chemistry Could Seal the Deal
For all the individual glory on the horizon, Graves is surprisingly grounded. He’s coming off two seasons where he eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards and scored 42 total touchdowns, 38 from passes. Yet, his focus is on the bigger picture for his final year. “It is my senior year, so I am trying to have the most fun I can to make it the most memorable season,” Graves stated. “I want to have the most fun with my guys. At the same time, I want to take it as seriously as I can and try to win that state championship.”
Holy Cross has consistently finished 7-3 in the regular season during his career, hitting eight wins twice by making the state playoff semifinals. This year, Graves believes the team has more experienced talent and leadership to finally win it all. Coach Mike Giampetruzzi agrees, noting that Graves’ legitimate shot at the records is backed by a strong supporting cast. Quarterback Brady Lombardo is back after completing 72.1% of his passes last season for 2,936 yards and 37 touchdowns. Graves credits their bond: “On the field, we don’t even have to say anything to each other. We can be on the same page just from looking at each other.” Add an experienced offensive line, a 1,025-yard running back in Nathan Craft, and a formidable second receiver in Aedan Hall (61 catches, 1,011 yards, 10 TDs), and you have a powerhouse.
Graves and Holy Cross are heading into the season with state championship aspirations. “I feel like we can go all the way and win a state championship this year,” he said, adding, “What I see in our team is a whole bunch of hungry kids that los.” That hunger, combined with Graves’ record-breaking potential, makes Holy Cross a must-watch team this fall.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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