Dakim Griffin Captures HHH East TD Record

In a conference game against Newfield High School of Selden this past Friday night, senior running back Dakim Griffin scored four touchdowns that helped lead Half Hollow Hills East High School to its sixth win of the season against only two losses. The Thunderbirds won 44-14 and Griffin set a Hills East touchdown record.

Griffin scored his first touchdown early in the game and then added another rushing touchdown midway through the second quarter for a 21-7 Thunderbirds lead. The run tied the mid-1970s touchdown record of James C. Metzger. At 10:54 of the third quarter, Griffin broke the record and increased the gap with Newfield to 27-7. Griffin scored one more touchdown later in the game, giving him 29 for the season. He rushed for 275 yards during the game.

Metzger’s #21 football jersey was retired by Hills East only two weeks earlier. His school lacrosse jersey, also #21, was retired two years ago. Metzger is the founder and chairman of The Whitmore Agency in Garden City, a leading financial services firm. He also is a Long Island benefactor, supporting nonprofit organizations along with youth athletic and education programs from grade school to college.

“I traveled from Manhattan to watch Dakim play [Friday] night,” said Metzger. “Neither I nor anyone else was disappointed in his performance, except maybe Newfield High School. We all held our breath when he limped off the field soon after the start of the game, but he got back out there and helped lead the Thunderbirds to another win.”

Top High School Running Back

On the gridiron, 1977 graduate Metzger had been the school's all-time leading scorer and rusher. He was a Suffolk County All-Star Running Back, starting 25 consecutive games, rushing for 2,155 yards, scoring 27 touchdowns and totaling 170 points. Metzger's career total offense, including receptions and returns, was 2,777 yards. He led the team in scoring for 1974, 1975 and 1976, and rushing for 1975 and 1976.

During his senior season, Metzger was the only high school athlete to be selected and participate in both the Suffolk County North – South All-Star Football Game (started at running back) and the North – South All-Star Lacrosse Game (started at attack). For the same year, he was the Suffolk County lacrosse scoring champion (public schools), named an All-American lacrosse player and received the Lt. Ray Enners Award as Outstanding Lacrosse Player in Suffolk County. Metzger played basketball for the 1974-1975 school varsity basketball team in the Suffolk County Playoffs.

“Dakim is a fine young man and he is just amazing to watch on the field,” added Metzger, who was an All-American lacrosse player at Hofstra University and has been inducted into several sports halls of fame on Long Island. “He is playing a game at a level beyond what I played. He’s the best high school running back I’ve ever seen. My record was accomplished over three varsity seasons. Dakim broke it in one season.”

Griffin also runs track for the Thunderbirds and he is fielding inquiries from several college football programs. On the academic side, Griffin hopes to focus on computer graphics.