Ailing White Is Just a Shadow of Himself, Valencia Coach Says

Running back Manuel White of Valencia High is practicing full time and is expected to play in the opener Friday night against Highland, but Coach Brian Stiman said not to expect much after the region’s top running back missed four days of practice with a viral infection.

“By no stretch of the imagination will he be the same running back you saw last year,” Stiman said. “He isn’t in top form.”

White, who rushed for 2,189 yards as a sophomore last season, is eight pounds lighter than when practice began and a step slower, according to Stiman.

“He doesn’t have his football legs,” Stiman said.

Quarterback Brian Hamilton and linebacker Ray Cassady are also less than full strength. Hamilton missed practice time with a hip flexor injury and is about 90%. Cassady missed practice Wednesday with flu symptoms.

The Vikings, ranked No. 6 in The Times’ preseason poll, have had two practices where the entire first-string offense and defense participated.

“That’s tough to overcome,” Stiman said. “The timing is going to be off.”

Valencia lost its opener last season and then won five consecutive games. They finished second in the Foothill League and made the playoffs.

“That’s what I keep telling myself,” Stiman said. “I have to keep things in perspective no matter what happens Friday night.”

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Murderers row: Antelope Valley High may have the region’s most arduous nonleague schedule.

The first month of the Antelopes’ season will feature matchups with Bakersfield, ranked No. 10 in the state; City power Sylmar on Sept. 18; Bishop Amat, the state’s third-ranked team, on Sept. 25 and No. 18 Dominguez on Oct. 2.

Antelope Valley isn’t exactly backing down.

“We think we have a pretty good team and a little tradition, too,” Coach Brent Newcomb said of his unranked Antelopes.

Antelope Valley has won its last meeting with each of those perennial powerhouses:

Antelope Valley 35, Bakersfield 15 in 1995.

Antelope Valley 27, Sylmar 7 in 1997.

Antelope Valley 28, Dominguez 25 in 1997, second round of Division II playoffs.

Antelope Valley 21, Bishop Amat 7 in 1993, second round of Division I playoffs.

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Local heroes: Jermaine Lewis, formerly of Antelope Valley High, and Durell Price, who played at Sylmar, will be UCLA’s starting running backs Saturday when the Bruins open against Texas at the Rose Bowl.

Both will have players from their former high school teams in attendance to cheer them on.

Sylmar and Antelope Valley were among more than 20 prep programs to accept invitations from the Bruins.

Antelope Valley, ranked fourth in the region by The Times, and second-ranked Sylmar, will have plenty to talk about. They play against each other six days later in one of the season’s best early season matchups.

“Maybe we can exchange game films when we’re there,” Antelope Coach Brent Newcomb said.

Littlerock will be in attendance to support alum Devon Reese, a reserve running back at UCLA.