LITTLE ROCK — Dumas Coach Mark Courtney said he doesn't know if Darion Griswold's idol is JaMarcus Russell.
But you could certainly understand why. Griswold has the look.
A promising 6-4, 220-pound sophomore quarterback, Griswold already bears a striking resemblance to Russell, the former LSU star quarterback and No. 1 overall draft choice by the Oakland Raiders last year.
Griswold wears No. 4 - the same number Russell originally had at LSU - and Dumas' purple and gold uniforms are nearly identical to LSU's.
Russell was a star basketball player at Mobile (Ala.) Williamson. Griswold is a member of the Arkansas Wings, a high-profile AAU team.
The similarities end there. But for how long?
Griswold has made just one career start at quarterback - a 35-20 loss to Lonoke in Monday's Hootens.com Kickoff Classic at Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff.
Griswold dominated the Jackrabbits at times, rushing 18 times for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns (2 and 18 yards).
But he completed just 6 of 23 passes for 90 yards and was intercepted 4 times.
Griswold also had a fumble recovered in the end zone for a touchback with Dumas on the brink of extending a 7-0 firstquarter lead.
"We're not far off with him," Courtney said. "This weather, No. 1, has hurt him. We've had two dry days since we've been in pads and so our timing is bad right now. The other thing is just pure fundamentals with him."
Courtney said Griswold's accuracy suffers when he doesn't set his feet properly in the pocket.
"When his feet are right, he doesn't make many bad throws," Courtney said. "But he's so strong-armed, he tries to get away throwing across his body some, throwing off his back foot some. That gets him in trouble at this level. In junior high, he could get away with it."
As for his running ability, Griswold showed that he was a threat from the Shotgun, often bowling over defenders, especially near the goal line.
"As big and as strong as he, when he gets going, he's good for a few yards most of the time," Courtney said.
Griswold played on the varsity late last season and inherited the starting spot after the graduation of Kendall Council, who led the Bobcats to a 10-2-1 record in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs.
Dumas doesn't play again until Sept. 12 at home against Osecola.
"We've got a little advantage of having nine days before we play again to really work on his footwork," Courtney said. "I think by the time we get to conference that we'll be in pretty good shape with him."
Russell was 6-5, 225 when he graduated from high school.
Tiger by the tail?
Dumas sophomore quarterback Darion Griswold's statistics Monday in a 35-20 loss to Lonoke:
RUSHING ATTEMPTS
18
RUSHING YARDS
140
RUSHING TDS
2
PASSING ATTEMPTS
23
PASSING COMPLETIONS
6
PASSING YARDS
90
PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
0
INTERCEPTIONS
4
Sports, Pages 24 on 09/04/2008