LJ FB: 'Griff' a big boy

Johnny Griffen (65) and fellow offensive
lineman Isaac Ramirez (75) celebrate
after Vikings' 34-13 shellacking
of Mission Bay Aug. 30.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Johnny Griffen isn't skipping a beat--or any meals--in his training for next fall's football season while classes are out during the coronavirus outbreak.

The rising Viking senior, who helps anchor down Coach Tyler Roach's offensive line, "is having some of his best workouts," according to his father Tim.

"He's eating five to eight thousand calories a day," said the senior Griffen, renowned for blowing his family's Hawaiian conch shell at La Jolla High home football games in the past.

At the time, Tim Griffen was standing in line outside a Vons with a shopping cart, first in line when the supermarket opened at 7 a.m. to load up on more foodstuffs for his burgeoning son.

"He can hardly put his arms straight down to his side" due to his bulked-up physique, said his father of Johnny, whose formal name is Jonathan.

Roach put out a Tweet on his dedicated lineman, stating he only gave up one sack last season of the line's precious cargo, sophomore quarterback Jackson Stratton. It was a winning season, the Vikings' first CIF title since 1993. They made it to the state championship game at Escalon.

"(Johnny) eats four peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches as a snack," his dad chuckled. "I buy six-loaf packages of bread at Costco."

The father notes, "That's only for him. Then we have the rest of the family" (who need to eat, too).

Mr. Griffen said the family has the equipment for Johnny, who was honored as a Second Team All-League selection, along with his fellow offensive linemen, to continue a strong regimen of training.

"He can squat 375 pounds," father said of son, who weighs 190 pounds. "He is working hard. We are so proud of him."

Last fall, Johnny was listed at 180 pounds on the team roster. He stands 5'9".

Regarding the rest of the 2019-2020 school year, Tim Griffen said, "We're looking to September." This school year is going to include graded instruction online beginning April 27, according to the San Diego Unified School District's announcement Tues., March 24. That may continue until June 9, the last day of school.