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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels August 14, 2004 Olson: Griffith is QB - for now By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Southern Oregon University head coach Jeff Olson didn't exactly go out of his way to defuse talk of a Raider quarterback controversy Thursday. Olson said senior Brandon Griffith will enter preseason camp as the No. 1 guy, but was quick to add that the battle for the starting spot will resume when the team reconvenes Monday. "As of today, (Griffith) is the starter," Olson said. "But � as we head into fall camp it's still going to be a very competitive camp, and I say that in a positive way because I think that spring showed that we have a very talented class here." Redshirt junior Justin Despotakis, sophomore Boomer Marshall and sophomore Dan Downey are also in the running to become the Raiders' next starting QB. Griffith, listed at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, is the most experienced of the four, serving as Dan Woodward's backup for the past two seasons. 'Experienced' is a relative team, however. In his first three seasons, Griffith has yet to start and has thrown less than 30 passes - he's completed 19 of 29 for 301 yards and four touchdowns. Despotakis, a 6-6, 240-pound signal caller, started the last game of the 2003 season and finished the year with a .650 completion percentage (13 of 20) with 128 passing yards and a touchdown. Marshall may be the darkhorse. The former Southern Oregon Conference offensive MVP is entering his sophomore season after a record-breaking three-year run at South Medford High. He's big - 6-3, 245 pounds - and had the best showing among Raider QBs in the team's intrasquad game May 8, when he completed 10 of 16 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. Downey, a sophomore from Clackamas High, completed 5 of 8 passes for 48 yards in the intrasquad game but has yet to see a game snap. Olson said all four are capable, but that Griffith has distinguished himself in the huddle. "More than anything right now, it's his leadership abilities," Olson said. "He was elected as one of our team captains after the spring and Brandon's never started a game here, so that tells me a little bit about what his teammates think of him." Even if Griffith starts in the Raiders' Sept. 4 season opener, Olson said a change could come at any time during the season. An ongoing competition for the most important position may worry some coaches, but Olson says it can be a good thing for the Raiders "if it's handled right." "I think part of it will be how the quarterbacks handle each other," he said. "Certainly there's going to be some competition, but if there's a division, that will hurt us. But last spring and so far this summer (during 7-on-7 passing camp) they've been very supportive of each other. That kind of attitude will certainly help us." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams