‘Mini Mac’ : He’s a Bit on the Small Side, But Banning’s Tailback Stirs Memories of Freeman McNeil

Keith Mims is living proof that you don’t have to be big to follow in big footsteps.

He’s listed at 5-8 and 175 pounds in the Banning High School football program. But Mims’ coach, Joe Dominguez, concedes that his senior tailback is probably at least 2 inches shorter and 10 pounds lighter in the flesh.

Mims’ teammates call him “Mini Mac” because his running style reminds them of former Banning standout Freeman McNeil, now with the New York Jets. And after five games this season, Mims has already proven that his lack of size isn’t going to hamper him.

As the point man in Banning’s veer option offense, Mims has piled up 694 yards and 12 touchdowns on 92 carries. Banning (4-1) takes on San Pedro (2-3) at Harbor College tonight at 8 p.m.

Tonight, Mims will be running behind one of the biggest front lines in prep football. At 5-10 and 200 pounds, center Eric Richard is the smallest Pilot lineman. The rest of the offensive line, including tight end Brian Proby, are all taller than 6-3 and heavier than 230 pounds. And blue-chip right tackle Bob Woodfield looms at an imposing 6-7, 270.

“I just follow their butts,” Mims said. “I can’t see anything till I get out there into the open.”

Once he gets there, Mims is doubly dangerous. Even though he doesn’t have blazing speed, he has an uncanny knack for slipping tackles. He wreaks as much havoc as a pocket battleship when he springs out into the secondary, averaging 7.5 yards per carry.

“Keith reminds me of a boxer,” Dominguez said. “Somehow he seems to make you miss him. You think you got a good shot at him, but then he bobs and weaves and you miss him.”

Or he takes to the air. Mims scored a go-ahead touchdown Sept. 23 against Long Beach Poly by vaulting over a nose guard who stepped up to cut off the play inside. Mims took off from about the 4-yard line, sailed over the nose guard and landed on his head in the end zone.

“The defense took the outside away,” Mims said. “There was only one person to beat. I guess he thought I was going to try to go through him.”

Banning ended up losing that game, 21-20, when Poly blocked a field goal on the Pilots’ last play. But Mims has also played a big part in the Pilots’ four wins, gaining 185 yards in Banning’s 41-18 victory over Gardena and 175 in a 41-21 decision over Muir.

That’s quite a feat for a tailback who carried the ball less than 15 times last season. Mims started the season at tailback under Coach John Hazelton, but his fumble in the fourth quarter of Banning’s opener against Muir cost the Pilots the game. Mims was a role player after that.

This year, however, Dominguez installed Mims at tailback and moved last year’s starting tailback, Chris Griffieth, to fullback. Since then, Griffieth has been cut from the team for disciplinary reasons, to be replaced by sophomore fullback Derek Sparks.

Mims has fumbled only three times in his 92 carries this year.

“We give him the ball right back after he fumbles,” Dominguez said. “That way he keeps his confidence.”

Quarterback John Ma’ae is the key man in Pilots’ veer offense. So far, Banning’s opponents have concentrated on stopping Ma’ae and Sparks, so Mims is getting a lot of carries.

“I guess the defenses are letting the little guy carry the ball and see how bad he can hurt them,” Dominguez said.

So far, Mims has been durable enough for the task, even though he’s the Pilots’ smallest starter after 5-6, 135-pound kick returner Eric Fierro.

“Keith runs inside a lot, and he’s taken some good hits in there,” Dominguez said. “But he pops right back up and he gets back in the huddle. He better be durable. If he goes down, our running back coach (Ed Barreras) will have to go in and play.”

Mims doesn’t plan on getting hurt. He bench-presses 270 pounds, 100 more than his body weight. That’s not bad for someone who wants to be an accountant when he graduates from college.

Right now, the colleges are just starting to warm up to Mims’ hot statistics. And even though Dominguez doesn’t think Mims is big enough to play “for a major college on Saturday morning TV,” he sees potential for Mims on a higher level of football.

John Becker, a counselor at Banning and also the school’s self-styled recruiting coordinator, named four colleges--Northern Arizona, Washington State, Nevada-Las Vegas, and Nevada-Reno--that have expressed interest in Mims at least on the basis of his stats. Becker corresponds with 50 colleges and universities nationwide.

“Keith’s stats are so good that people are starting to take a look,” Becker said. “He’s the new kid on the block, so we’re trying to create interest in him for the first time. I’d like to try to open up some choices for Keith.”

Until then, the 17-year-old Mims will stay modest and unflappable--and cool. He likes to swim in the afternoons before games so he can sleep and relax.

“You couldn’t tell after these five games if Keith had run for 10 yards or 700 yards,” Dominguez said. “He’s handled the attention and the pressure better than most adults would.”

Mims simply heaps the praise on the broad shoulders of the big guys in front of him.

“If it wasn’t for my offensive line, I wouldn’t be doing all of this,” he said.

Tonight, look for Mims to be setting up his blocks, hiding behind one of those behemoth guards or tackles and then cutting out into the open.

“I hope Keith doesn’t get lost going back to the huddle some time,” Dominguez said.