DaytonDailyNews.com

NEW ORLEANS — Ryan Perrilloux was a four-year starter at quarterback for East St. John High School in LaPlace, La. But he wasn't always as scary as he looks to many Ohio State fans.

"We were 4-6," Perrilloux said of his freshman season. "I didn't throw for 1,000 yards or none of that stuff. You just have to be patient and keep working, and things seem to fall into place."

Rated by many as the nation's top high school recruit in 2005, Perrilloux chose LSU and entered a quarterback rotation including JaMarcus Russell and Matt Flynn. Now, as a sophomore, Perrilloux is Flynn's backup and a key offensive weapon available to the Tigers on Monday in the BCS Championship Game against Ohio State.

He hasn't compiled the numbers many expected after he passed for 9,025 yards and ran for 3,680 more during his high school career. Last season, the 6-foot-2, 222-pounder played in just five games but has emerged behind Flynn this season to pass for 694 yards, run for 203 more and win his only two games as the starter when Flynn was injured.

"My role is to do whatever I have to do to help the team when he can't play or when they call my number," Perrilloux said. "That's what I try to do."

The Tigers needed that in the SEC championship game, when Perrilloux subbed for Flynn and completed 20-of-30 passes for 243 yards in the victory against Tennessee. One of the protected secrets around this game is how much Perrilloux will play.

"It depends on how the flow of the game is going," Perrilloux said. "If everything is going good and we have the upper hand, I might get one or two snaps. If we need that spark, I might get more. I expect to play, whether it's one play or 10 plays or whatever."

Soccer to football

Colt David was a middle school soccer star when some football-playing friends invited him to practice.

"They told me I could kick or something," David said.

He has become one of the country's best. The junior from Grapevine, Texas, has converted 25-of-32 field-goal attempts for the Tigers this season, including 6-of-10 from 40 yards or more. A key weapon for LSU, he has made 10 of his past 11 tries.

"By high school I was kicking further than other people," David said. "I figured I should stick with it."

Watch the turnovers

There's no question what number LSU coach Les Miles searches for in the box score: turnovers.

"It's the biggest stat in every football game that is played — turnover ratio," Miles said. "If there's one predictor of victory, if you had to say what one statistic is there, it's number of turnovers. If you win the turnover battle, you have a legitimate chance to win the game."

The Tigers' turnover ratio is plus-18, best in the SEC.

Special

If Monday's game comes down to special teams, LSU might have an edge. Placekicker Colt David and punter Patrick Fisher are both first-team All-SEC picks. Their stats:

David: 25-for-32 field goals (long: 49)

Fisher: 43.9-yard average on 56 punts (long: 61)