Latest LSJ high school athlete of week winner had strong all-around showing in win over Fulton.
A broken fibula prevented Griffin Long from contributing for the Morrice football team during most of its playoff journey last season as it finished as the 8-man Division 2 state runner-up.
And that experience has motivated the junior quarterback a lot.
"I felt like I had something to prove," Long said.
And Long has proven plenty this season and given the Orioles an added dimension with his versatile skill set as the program works toward a state championship game return.
Long, who was voted the latest LSJ boys high school athlete of the week, showed his ability to impact games with his big all-around performance in Morrice's key league victory over Fulton in Week 5. Long ran for 229 yards and five touchdowns, threw for 204 yards and a touchdown and added 10 tackles on defense and two interceptions.
"It felt awesome," Long said of his performance.
"We came in knowing it was going to be a battle so we had to step up our game and fight harder than we normally do."
Morrice football coach Kendall Crockett has seen a number of big rushing performances during his time leading the Orioles' program but what Long did in the passing attack separated it from others.
"I've had the running backs that have done that before but I've never had a quarterback who has thrown for 200 yards, ran for 200 yards, scored four or five touchdowns, threw for one and then defensively had the game that he had," Crockett said. "I've never as a coach since I've been here had a player do all of that. That was very unique."
His passing abilities also make things unique for the Orioles (5-1) as they work towards a return to the 8-man Division 2 state title game. Morrice leaned on a powerful rushing attack led by Joel Fisher and Wyatt Cartier while finding success in 2024.
With Long's abilities to throw and run and the other talent surrounding him, the Orioles believe they can beat teams in multiple ways.
"From an 8-man perspective if you look back at the North Powers teams that had the throwing quarterbacks, the kid was fast and he could throw and that's kind of where Griffin is at right now," Crockett said.
" ... It gives us an added dimension that most teams don't have the luxury of having. Most teams are going to be either an all run first or maybe a little bit of play-action, but if we can do both and we can do both consistently we're going to be a very tough out when it comes to the playoffs."
Contact Brian Calloway at [email protected]. Follow him on X @brian_calloway and Bluesky @briancalloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Griffin Long making major mark for Morrice football
Category: General Sports
