John Cantey’s first impression of Leo Albano? A pretty good athlete but his jump shot could use some work.

Albano was rangy eighth-grader back then who’d pop up in the Bishop England gymnasium for pickup basketball games. Four years later, that same slight small forward is a seemingly unstoppable quarterback who’s using his senior year to cement himself as possibly the best football player in Bishop England history.

Four weeks after setting Bishop England’s all-time touchdown record, Albano broke the school’s career rushing mark in a 41-6 win over Academic Magnet Friday on Daniel Island.

“He’s definitely the best player that I’ve coached,” said Cantey who’s in his 10th season as head coach of the Bishops. “When you look at the career overall, the whole body of work. Now that he’s culminating his career, he’s breaking records left and right and he deserves to.”

Albano entered the game needing 104 yards to surpass former Parade All-American Derek Hughes’ school record of 3,229 rushing yards. He had it by the second quarter, eclipsing the mark on a 39-yard touchdown run that put the Bishops ahead 28-0 three minutes before halftime.

“It means the world to me,” Albano said. “Breaking a record like that really does put things into perspective. My O-line has always done a great job blocking. That’s the reason you set records like that. Especially tonight, guys were sprawled all over the field.”

Albano’s record-breaking run was already his fourth score of the night. The Bishops’ first three scoring drives took just two minutes and 52 seconds combined.

Albano scored on a 20-yard keeper with two minutes left in the first quarter. He then hooked up with Christian Greavu for a 64-yard TD pass 16 seconds into the second quarter. The Bishops’ following possession was shortest of all though, lasting just 10 seconds as Albano took the first snap 35 yards to the end zone.

He broke the rushing record in the next series on a read-option, a play he’s been running since he took over as the starter freshman year. When the Raptors’ defensive end keyed on the running back, Albano pulled the handoff out of his gut and took off for the score.

“That point of contact, just knowing when it’s coming or (Albano’s) keeping it, it’s hard to stop,” Academic Magnet coach Steve Kamp said. “He’s been a stud for them all four years. He’s only gotten bigger, faster, stronger each year. I hope to watch him go on and play at the next level.”

Karson Mingo opened a 35-point Bishops lead with a 10-yard touchdown slam through two Raptors defenders in the final minute of the third quarter.

Steven Schlosser broke the shutout for Magnet with a 4-yard push up the middle three minutes into the fourth quarter. Charlie Michel countered for the Bishops with a 20-yard touchdown run on the ensuing possession.

Albano left the field after the game with his usual self-effacing demeanor. He’s quick to deflect any attention to his lineman or his receivers. A consummate leader, he’d rather discuss the team’s standing rather than his own. The Bishops (3-2) have a bye next week before opening region play against Lake Marion. That, Albano assures, is much more interesting than his historic mark.

“We won, that’s the biggest thing that happened tonight,” Albano said. “I’m focused on the region. We have some momentum now going into the break but we have to keep it up because when we come back it’s region and things really start to count.”