Dillon's No. 1 Stat: Wins -- Franklin Back Helps Defend Metro Title

Corey Dillon says he is just another player on the team. He may be right.

He is also just a running back who has compiled more yards rushing (1,256) this year than the total yardage of eight Metro League teams.

And he is the difference between the Franklin Quakers trying to repeat as Metro League champions or being a just another good high-school football team.

Despite the attention from collegiate scouts and media, Dillon doesn't dwell on statistics. He doesn't get caught up in awards. He tries his best to help the fourth-ranked Quakers win football games.

"As long as we win, that's fine with me," Dillon said. "I think about goals for myself, but my top goal is to win the game. And that's the most important one."

It's a mature frame of mind for an 18-year-old who is one of the dominant players in the league.

Franklin will defend its Metro League title against the state's top-ranked team, O'Dea, tomorrow night. To the winner - the league title, the league's No. 1 seed in the Class AA state playoffs and home-field advantage in a first-round game. The loser earns the Metro's second-seed and travels next week.

Franklin Coach Joe Slye does not plan to alter the game plan that led the Quakers to an 8-0 season. It's business as usual.

"We're not going to make any radical changes now," Slye said. "What we've done this season got us this far. What's that saying, `you dance with the one who brung you.' "

With Dillon on your team a coach can look like a genius. Defenses must play honest when they line-up against the 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior. Opponents dare not blitz or stunt linemen because one missed tackle can result in a Franklin touchdown.

"When teams take away Corey, we've got other players to go to," Slye said. "But no one can stop him for the entire game."

During the game, Dillon said he tries to block out everything except getting the job done. Whatever it takes - a strong stiff arm, breaking tackles, a leap-frog over a defender or catching the ball - he will do it.

And so it was against Ingraham.

-- Franklin 43, Ingraham 6 - Much was made about the matchup of the No. 1 and No. 2 runners in the league. Rams tailback Donnie Stringer was the league leader, not Dillon.

"I wanted to show who's the best runner in the Metro," Dillon said. "Me and Donnie go way back. Back to Little Leagues, but the competition is still there."

In the second half, Dillon captured the rushing title on a 12-yard play. He grabbed the ball, froze for a second, and then whipped past three Ram defenders, including Stringer, before they could move.

But Stringer didn't feel bad.

He believes Dillon deserved the rushing title.

"He's nice, I got to give him his credit. He's very nice," Stringer said.

-- Franklin 41, Rainier Beach 12 - In that victory, Dillon destroyed the Vikings with 180 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

"We wanted to prove who's the best team down here on Rainier Ave.," Dillon said, as if there was any doubt.

Rainier Beach (3-5) is not in the same class as Franklin.

-- Franklin 30, Cleveland 0 - It was Dillon's birthday, which meant D-day for the Eagles.

"I was feeling kind of good that day," Dillon said smiling. "I had an extra boost of energy."

He gained 204 yards on 17 carries.

That game, quarterback Roderick Sampson and Dillon ran the option to perfection. On one play, Sampson had ideas of tucking the ball under his arm and running, but two Cleveland defenders forced a pitch to Dillon.

The ball was high and awkward, but Dillon palmed it with one hand and unleashed a stiff arm with the other. Forty-eight yards and about four seconds later he partied in the end zone with other five Franklin players.

"He usually brings a lot of players to him so that leaves me to run and do what I can," Sampson said. "And when they key me, there's the pitch."

Dillon said he's impressed with Sampson's ability to run the option and pass the football.

"Roderick has just as much potential as me," he said. "We talk about our game plan during practice and before game. I know when he's going to pitch the ball or not before the play begins."

Forget Dillon's yardage, touchdowns and average yards per carry - categories, by the way, he has lead since the season's third week. He is another of the gifted Franklin athletes to rise to prominence.

The comparisons to other past great Franklin players are inevitable. There was Mario Bailey (1987), who went on to star at receiver for Washington. Aaron Pierce and the late Travis Spring are Franklin alumni who played at UW.

And yet it's almost as if Dillon had never pondered the question.

"Corey, are you the best to play at Franklin?"

Before he answered, he paused and considered the question for several seconds.

"I don't think so," he said. "What those guys did is different from what I'm trying to do. I don't want to follow what they did, I want to make a name for myself."

--------------------------------------------------- FRANKLIN VS. O'DEA

-- WHERE/WHEN: Memorial Stadium, tomorrow, 8 p.m.

-- AT STAKE: The Metro League championship, the league's No. 1 berth in the Class AA state playoffs and a first-round game at home. The loser earns the No. 2 berth and must travel for its first-round game.

-- SERIES: Franklin leads series 2-0. In their last meeting, Franklin beat O'Dea 21-20 in overtime to win the 1991 Metro League title.

-- RECORDS/RANKINGS: Franklin (8-0). O'Dea (8-0). In the Associated Press Class AA state poll, O'Dea is the No. 1-ranked team and Franklin is ranked No. 4.

-- COACHES: Franklin Coach Joe Slye has a 56-26 record in nine seasons with the Quakers. O'Dea Coach Monte Kohler is 62-11 in seven seasons.

-- FRANKLIN: The Quakers win the battle of the most significant statistics. Franklin has more total offensive yardage (2,544) and the league's stingiest defense, allowing 4.7 points a game and fewer than 150 yards total offense. TB Corey Dillon leads the league in rushing (1,256 yards) and is threat to score from anywhere on the field. Offensive line averages 6-foot-1 and 247 pounds. TE Ed Raiford and QB Roderick Sampson have emerged late in the year.

-- O'DEA: Call the Irish Lethal Weapon IV. QB James Jackson, TB Jovan McCoy and Kyle Patton, and WR Charles Young lead Irish offense that averages 36.6 points a game. McCoy is listed as questionable for tomorrow's game because of a fractured right hand and pending a ruling by the WIAA for eligibilty, he will see limited action on defense. LBs Jason Bass, Lonnie Franklin and Sekou Wiggs lead Irish defense that has not allowed a runner to gain more than 100 yards this season.

-- NOTABLE: Home-field advantage? Franklin has played seven games on the turf field at Memorial Stadium this year. O'Dea, considered a natural grass team, has played on turf only twice this season, and played most of its regular-season games at West Seattle Stadium. Both teams run the option offense, which means the quarterback that makes the best decisions and has the least turnovers should lead his team to victory. The conditions might be a problem - the weather forecast is for 56 degrees with chance of rain.