Griffin racked up 56 points and a ton of yards against a star-studded Carrollton defense in last season’s Class AAAA state championship game, without one of the Bears’ most powerful weapons.
Running back Malik Miller missed last year’s championship game with an injury. He’s back this season, with a vengeance.
“For the first 15 yards, he’s the best running back I’ve ever been around,” Griffin coach Jarrett Laws said of Miller. “He may not have that top-end, breakaway speed, but he’s had at least one explosive run, 20 yards or more, in every game.”
At 5-10, 200 pounds, Miller is described by offensive coordinator Jamie Aull as a “one-cut, down-hill runner. “
“He’s a dog,” Aull said. “Tough to tackle.”
Miller, who boasts a 4.03 GPA and ranks third in his class, has rushed for 1,201 yards, while averaging more than eight yards per carry. He's committed to Furman, but also has offers from Army, Air Force and others.
He's bolstering a Griffin offense, which at this point, is more prolific than last season's squad. The Bears have scored 46.3 points per game. If it holds up, the 2014 Bears will go down of one of the top 25 offensive seasons in state history, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association.
Quarterback Anforne Stroud, a converted defensive back, has thrown 20 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He’s completed 101 of 173 passes for 1,830 yards and impressed his coaches with composure and patience while orchestrating such an explosive attach.
“His football IQ is off the charts,” Aull said of Stroud, who started at safety for the Bears in last season’s championship game.
Stroud has spread the ball around to a bevy of receiving weapons, most notably Keyston Fuller, a Duke commitment, and Christian Owens, a Georgia commitment.
Griffin looks for its 24th straight win Friday at Riverdale.
Friday night: What to watch
--Three DeKalb teams—Columbia, Arabia Mountain and Lithonia--are battling for two remaining Region 6-AAAA playoff berths.
Lithonia (5-4, 3-4) needs a win over Redan (2-6, 2-4) Friday at North DeKalb Stadium and a loss by Arabia Mountain (3-5, 3-2) in its final two games to clinch the fourth seed out of the region. It would be Lithonia’s first playoff appearance since 2002.
Arabia Mountain can earn the fourth seed with wins against Grady (4-4, 3-3) Friday and Columbia next week.
Columbia (5-3, 4-2) sews up the three seed with a win over Chamblee (1-7, 1-5) Friday at Avondale.
St. Pius X can clinch the region championship with a win over Stone Mountain.
--Baldwin hosts No. 8 Mary Persons in a battle for first place in Region 2-AAAA. The Braves (5-3, 3-1) has won three straight, but face their most difficult challenge Friday. Mary Persons (7-1, 4-0) has won seven straight behind a defense that has surrendered only seven points in four region games.
--No. 1 Buford's 33-game win streak is the 15th longest current streak in the nation, according to MaxPreps.com. The Wolves (8-0, 5-0) host Madison County (5-3, 3-2) in a Region 8-AAAA game Friday. But the bigger game in Region 8 takes place at Stephens County, where the 7-1 Indians host North Oconee. Stephens County, 5-0 in region play, can lock up at least the No. 2 seed with a win over North Oconee (5-3, 4-1). The Titans lost to Buford 58-3 last week. Stephens County hosts Buford next week.
--Pickens hosts rival Gilmer in a big Region 7-AAAA game tonight. The visiting Bobcats (7-1, 4-1) have won the last five meetings with the Dragons, including a 17-0 shutout last season. Pickens (7-1, 4-1) features the state’s leading rusher in Shannon Brooks (1,850 yards, 28 touchdowns).
