SPORTS NOTEBOOK

Former Centennial High defensive back John Stembridge made a name for himself as an offensive back at Victor Valley College this fall. The 6-foot, 175-pound freshman was converted to tailback midway through the season and rushed for 514 yards on 100 carries. The total was the second best in school history and helped the Rams (5-5) to their best mark since 1971.

Stembridge began the season as a starting defensive back, but in the fourth game of the season, against East Los Angeles, he carried the ball one time for nine yards. In the next two games he tallied 20 carries for 94 yards. But on Nov. 7, against Rio Hondo, Stembridge broke through for 189 yards on 25 rushes. A week later, against Chaffey, he rushed 41 times for 193 yards.

“We thought we had pretty good running backs to start the season so we put him at defensive back,” said Victor Valley Coach Gene Tashima. “As the season went on, we learned the running backs weren’t so good. Then we had some injuries, so we moved Stembridge over.”

His season total might have been better, but because Stembridge missed a practice, he was held out of the first half of the season finale against Antelope Valley and finished with just 29 yards. Tashima explained that Stembridge, who recently became a father, skipped practice so he could take his son to a doctor appointment.

“He’s going to get involved in an off-season weight program, and we expect him to return next season,” Tashima said.