Manning Is Man-of-All-Positions

Before the season, Tim Manning, who did a lot of everything for Trabuco Hills High School’s football team last year, was asked to give it all up.

In 1988, Manning, one of the best defensive backs in Southern California--and a running back and receiver as well--helped the Mustangs to the Southern Section Division VIII championship.

But with the graduation of quarterback David Lowery, the team needed a replacement and Trabuco Hills Coach Jim Barnett asked Manning to be it. Manning accepted the change reluctantly, wishing someone else would arrive to take over.

“I was kind of hoping a transfer would come in,” Manning said. “But now it doesn’t bother me that much.”

It’s his opponents that are troubled now. Orange High, for instance, discovered on Thursday that Manning could be a devastating foe. Manning, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, was involved in all the Mustangs’ touchdowns as Trabuco Hills defeated Orange, 20-7, to win the Pacific Coast League championship.

Manning’s 66-yard touchdown scramble on the second play of the game opened the scoring for the Mustangs. In the fourth quarter, his 66-yard punt return for a touchdown wrapped it up. In between, he completed 12 of 22 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown. He finished with 78 yards rushing in three carries and accounted for 222 of Trabuco Hills’ 265 total yards.

To complete this all-around display, Manning broke up four passes while playing safety.

Although he now enjoys playing quarterback, Manning said he will switch back to receiver or defensive back if he plays football in college.

Before this season, Manning had been praised highly for his play at at safety. With 23 interceptions in three years, Manning is tied for the Orange County career interception record with Dave Hill, who played for Mission Viejo from 1982-84.

But this year, Barnett decided to use Manning sparingly at safety as he became more accustomed to the quarterback position. In league games, however, Manning was back playing defense and his contributions on both sides of the line of scrimmage helped the Mustangs (9-1 overall, 5-0 in league) to their second consecutive title.

Barnett said there is nothing surprising about the way Manning has taken to quarterback. “He’s been doing quite a lot for a while,” Barnett said. “He’s intensely competitive, and he’s talented and he’s smart.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Rene Arias of Fullerton completed 16 of 26 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Indians over La Habra, 27-0, Thursday.

Matt Carvalho of Dana Hills gained 179 yards in 27 carries and scored the Dolphins’ only touchdown--a 71-yard run--in a 13-0 victory over Irvine Thursday.

Kealii Clifford of Mater Dei rushed for two touchdowns and caught two scoring passes in the Monarchs’ 35-24 victory over Servite Thursday. Clifford finished with 155 yards rushing.

Mike Farrell of San Clemente ran three miles in 15 minutes 51 seconds, the fastest Orange County time of the day, at Mt. San Antonio College Friday to lead the Tritons to victory in their heat of the Southern Section cross-country preliminaries.

Scott Jordan of Whittier Christian ran for 200 yards and two touchdowns in 31 carries to help the Heralds beat Miraleste, 41-21, Saturday.

Dana Riddle of Rancho Alamitos gained 144 yards in 34 carries in a 26-0 loss to Bolsa Grande Friday to finish the regular season with 2,082 yards, the fourth-highest total ever in Orange County.

Tim Manning

Trabuco Hills High School

* Position: Quarterback/safety

* Height, Weight, Class: 6-0, 175, Senior.

* Last Week: In a victory over Orange, Manning had three touchdowns, including one on a 66-yard punt return.

* Season: Manning has passed for 11 touchdowns and scored 10.