After Stellar Season, Valencia’s White Works Extra Long Because . . . HE’S THE TARGET

The veins in Manuel White’s neck bulge and he lets out a guttural groan as he bench-presses 205 pounds for the 10th time.

“That last one was tough,” said White, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior running back for Valencia High.

After an hour in the weight room, it’s off to College of the Canyons to run bleachers for half an hour. After that he goes home for an hour of swimming pool exercises.

Later that night, White, the top running back in the region, will work out for three hours at a 24-hour gym.

He began his rigorous schedule about a month ago.

His reason? Because he has to.

“People are going out there just to stop me this season,” White said. “I know that. If I hit the weight room, I’ll be prepared for it.”

An unheralded sophomore before last season, White dazzled opponents with his power and quickness. He finished the season with 2,189 yards--third in the region behind Justin Fargas of Notre Dame (2,816) and Emmanuel Evans of Birmingham (2,205)--and 20 rushing touchdowns.

He was selected co-player of the year in the Foothill League, to the all-state sophomore team by Cal-Hi Sports and fell 150 yards short of the state sophomore rushing record set by Russell White of Crespi in 1986.

Those accomplishments will get him plenty of recognition this season, particularly in the locker rooms at Highland and Canyon highs.

Last year, White rushed for 256 yards against Highland and 300 against Canyon. Both schools have chosen to remember those performances by hanging newspaper photographs of White.

“It is very prominent in our locker room,” said Highland Coach Lin Parker, whose team plays Valencia in a season opener on Sept. 11 at Canyon High. “Manuel is mentioned in every one of our practices. I think everyone has to be concerned with him.”

White considers the attention a compliment.

“I’m flattered,” he said. “I had to do something good to get that.”

But his mother, Charmaine, is not thrilled with the idea of her son being a target.

“I don’t want to hear that,” she said.

Charmaine, though, is confident her son can handle the pressure. With an older sister and younger twin sisters, Manuel is accustomed to being the center of attention, his mother said.

“My side of the family is all girls,” Charmaine said. “The cousins and everything. When we all get together, he’s the only boy. That’s made him tough.”

But it’s going to take more than toughness for White to repeat his 1997 performance.

The biggest challenge will be coping with defenses designed to stop him.

“Sometimes things get a little carried away and these young men don’t know how to deal with it,” Valencia Coach Brian Stiman said. “Expectations can get a little high.”

Stiman hopes to have a balanced offense again, with returning quarterback Brian Hamilton sharing the load with White.

“There are teams coming with the sole intent of stopping Manuel White,” Stiman said. “We’re well aware of that. But I don’t think that the success of this team falls on the shoulders of Manuel White.”

White feels his intense workouts have helped improve his speed, which was a weakness last season. His regimen has included sprinting with Fargas, the 1997 state 100-meter champion.

“I’ve really worked on my breakaway speed,” said White, who placed fourth in the Foothill League 100 final with a time of 11.3 seconds last spring. “I got caught from behind a lot last season, but I think I got a lot faster.”

He’s also an inch taller and 15 pounds heavier, making him a more menacing presence for Valencia’s opponents.

“I think I’ll do pretty good this year because I’ve been training,” White said. “There’s so many people going out to get me, but I don’t think they’ve been doing all this stuff. A lot of guys are out partying.

“Last year, I didn’t really take it seriously because it was my first varsity year. But now I know what I’m capable of.”

SNEAK PEEK

Second in a nine-part series. Today: Running Backs. Manuel White of Valencia.

Aug. 27: Quarterbacks. Kyle Boller of Hart

Saturday: Tight Ends. Mike Seidman of Westlake

Sunday: Wide Receivers. Jerry Owens of Hart.

Wednesday: Offensive lineman: Tony Sanchez of Sylmar

Thursday: Defensive lineman. Carl Cannon of Taft

Sept. 4: Linebackers. Jorge Tapia of Hueneme

Sept. 5: Defensive backs. Corey Neal of Sylmar

Sept. 6: Kickers. Jason Geisler of Camarillo