Thursday night, at the Olympia stadium, Billy Napier‘s 6’4, 205-pound quarterback recruit target threw a 72-yard touchdown on the opening snap, and the crowd erupted into cheers. But he had just begun to unpack his explosive performance. The Dunham Tigers’ quarterback would go on to register three career-high performances in 60 minutes.

Meet Elijah Haven. Dunham High School’s offensive key weapon. Over the four quarters, he chipped in a career-high 535 yards of total offense and eight touchdowns in 60 minutes. Eclipsing the 100-yard mark, along with 133 rushing yards on 10 carries, he registered an explosive ground coverage as well. One of the highlights of his performance was a 52-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He wrapped the matchup with a rushing touchdown as the time clocked out, registering Dunham’s 63-42 win over Live Oak. “I just saw green,” he said of his long touchdown sprint.

“2027 Five-Star QB Elijah Haven had a monster game last night,” CFB insider Hayes Fawcett wrote on Instagram. He continued. “The No. 1 QB in the ‘27 Class totaled 535 Yards & 8 TDs (both career highs). He led Dunham to a 63-42 Win over Live Oak.”

And Gainesville is on cloud nine. Haven is expected to be on the campus on October 4, the very day that Billy Napier will host Texas on its turf, and the recruiting target will be taking detailed notes. This would be a significant clash for both Napier and Haven. But the Class of 2027 target is a Baton Rouge native and has received an offer from his in-state program. And, on Saturday, he will be present at the Tigers’ stadium to witness the clash between LSU and the Florida Gators as well.

Additionally, the five-star recruit has received offers from powerhouse programs such as the Ohio State Buckeyes, Alabama, and Michigan. Auburn, Ole Miss, and Baylor, among others, have extended the offer as well. According to On3’s recruiting machinery, Napier’s program boasts 97.5% chances.

Dunham High’s head coach, Neil Weiner, couldn’t be any prouder. “Elijah was fantastic tonight,” he said post-game. “Always making the right decision on where to go with the ball.” Elijah’s response? Teamwork. Aside from displaying terrific prowess, he is stepping into the locker room leadership role down in the trenches. “It was the whole team,” Elijah Haven said of the showdown per On3. “The offensive line did great, wide receivers were able to make some great plays for me. It was a great night,” he added.

Much to Billy Napier’s delight, analysts Steve Wiltfong and Sam Spiegelman have predicted the Gators as the top destination for Haven to land. Elijah’s parents also seem dialed in towards the Gators. “The campus is extremely nice. They have what they call the GatorMade program, which my wife and I are extremely excited about,” Elijah’s father, Kwame, told Rivals. In addition to that, Napier, quarterbacks coach Ryan O’Hara, and offensive coordinator and tight end coach Russ Callaway are frequently in touch with them.

Florida Gators fans left jaw-dropped

Following the clash, the Gainesville faithful are beaming with joy. “Scoring 41 and still be losing by 21 is crazy work,” wrote a fan. Another Instagram user commented, “Gator boysssss.” Elijah Haven is the No. 1 quarterback in the Class of 2027. True to his genius, he tallied over 4,000 yards of total offense and 56 touchdowns, leading Dunham High to the Louisiana State championship last fall. But the Baton Rouge prodigy has more accolades stashed in his back pocket. Being the first player from Louisiana to be named MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year.

Another individual wrote, “2027 on da rise.” Presently, for the Class of 2027, Billy Napier is trying to onboard No. 2 QB Kavian Bryant, Colton Nussmeier, and Logan Flaherty, and others. Besides others, the Gators are also eyeing No. 7 QB Michigan commit Peter Bourque, No. 14 Clemson commit Kharim Hughley, and Indiana Hoosiers commit Jameson Purcell. As of now, Billy Napier’s Class of 2027 class has one commit, the No. 8 ATH Tramond Collins.

Another individual wrote, “Imagine putting up 42 js for ur defense to allow 63.” Elijah Haven-led offense dominated the trenches. Aside from Haven, wide receivers Jarvis Washington Jr., Trevor Haman, and Khris Thomas played a significant part in receiving the catches. “We started off explosive, got on a hotfoot and they couldn’t stop us,” Washington said of the robust offense per On3. “We scored on the first play of the game, and it just kept rolling from there.” As of now, Elijah Haven’s roster is 2-0 in the season.