Valencia Running Back Draft Getting a Chance to Show His Lighter Side : Prep football: North’s practices for county all-star game have been loose, but Stanford-bound back says game will be intense.

Practice just started, and Chris Draft is, well, smiling.

And not just smiling. Draft appears jovial, an on-field demeanor not often associated with the swift, powerful running back.

This, however, is not a typical practice. Draft, formerly of Valencia High, is preparing for the 35th Orange County North-South All-Star football game scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

Draft and his teammates on the North squad are learning their roles at Savanna High. Moreover, Draft said, they are learning about one another.

“The best part (of being selected to the team) is messing around with all the guys, talking and having fun,” Draft said. “During the season we have to compete, and personalities change (on the field) because you want to win.

“This allows us to find out what everybody is really about.”

Draft, 18, is no mystery to anyone on the field--except for would-be tacklers.

He had a brilliant three-year varsity career at Valencia, rushing for 3,038 yards. Draft (6 feet 2, 210 pounds) capped his career by being selected The Times Orange County back of the year in 1993 after gaining 1,338 yards rushing with 24 touchdowns as a senior.

Also a starter on defense, Draft, a linebacker, finished third on the team in tackles and had nine sacks. His overall excellence was a big reason Valencia won the Orange League title and advanced to the semifinals of the Southern Section Division VI playoffs.

He has accepted a football scholarship from Stanford and will leave for Palo Alto on Aug. 16.

“I’m really not thinking much about college yet,” Draft said. “Once it gets closer to the time I have to leave, then I’m sure I’ll feel all the different emotions associated with going to college.

“Right now I just want to have my summer and get in shape for the all-star game.”

Draft and his teammates have worked toward that goal since practice began June 22. Despite the good times, Draft said work has been done.

“We have a real social group, everyone has been talking to each other a lot, but we’re getting everything covered,” Draft said. “Everything is real organized. We’ve put (the plays) in, now it’s just a matter of getting the timing down and making it all work.”

Offensive rhythm is usually helped by continuity--something neither the North nor South squads has enjoyed. The rosters have seemingly changed by the minute almost since the day they were initially typed.

The problem? Draft believes he knows.

“It’s the last summer before college, and a lot of guys just want to mess around and relax with their friends,” Draft said. “When you’re out there practicing, you can’t get the most out of your summer like you want to.

“But all the guys still out there are real dedicated to play.”

So much so that Draft expects an intense battle. Fun or not, football is football.

“You have to play the game, you can’t just go out there and joke around,” Draft said. “Once game time comes, everyone will do their job. We know what we have to do.”

Draft, at least, is ready.

“This is a game where I can show people what I can do,” he said. “A lot of people from different schools will be watching this game, a lot of people who haven’t see me play yet.

“I hope I can give them a show.”