Skyline’s Browne earns top honor

SEATTLE – Skyline High quarterback Max Browne has racked up championships and passing records during his brilliant prep career. And now the USC-bound senior is adding a prestigious national honor to his résumé.

Browne on Tuesday was named the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year. He was presented the award in the school’s theater on the Sammamish, Wash., campus, with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in attendance.

The only other player from Washington to earn the Gatorade national award, which has been presented since 1985, is former Puyallup High School quarterback Brock Huard in 1994-95. Browne led Skyline to three consecutive 4A state title games, and the Spartans won the last two of them. They beat Skyview of Vancouver in 2011 and, earlier this month, defeated Bellarmine Prep, 49-24, to cap a 14-0 season.

Browne completed 21 of 28 passes for 384 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Bellarmine, setting 4A title-game records for passing yards and touchdowns. He finished his career with 12,951 passing yards, eighth all-time nationally, and surpassing DeSales’ Brian Lindgren (12,575 from 1996-98) as the state’s career passing leader.

Browne also set the state record for career completions with 882, surpassing former Prosser and Boise State star Kellen Moore. His career total of 146 touchdowns is third-highest in state history.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Browne is the nation’s top-ranked high school quarterback, and will compete next year to succeed Matt Barkley at USC.