White, Rivals Join Forces

Once again, Manuel White finds himself surrounded by Hart High football players.

For a change, it is not a nightmare, nor a flashback to Hart stuffing the Valencia High running back.

This time, the UCLA-bound White doesn’t mind being on the same field as Pat Norton, an all-state linebacker from Hart who always seemed to be blocking White’s path.

That’s because White and five Hart players are on the same team in the East-West All-Star game Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Cal State Northridge.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound White, who rushed for 6,745 yards in his career, was on the wrong end of a one-sided rivalry.

Hart defeated Valencia in each of the last three seasons in Foothill League play and, for extra measure, drubbed the Vikings, 34-6, in the Southern Section Division III championship game last season.

“They always ended up on top,” said White, who finished fourth on the state all-time rushing list.

Valencia and Hart players are wearing the same uniforms this week representing the East all-stars, and White is enjoying it.

“We’ve been competing against each other for four years, but everyone’s getting along real good,” he said. “It’s cool.”

White didn’t feel the same way after the Vikings lost to Hart in the division final. White, who rushed for 38 touchdowns last season, was held to 59 yards in 16 carries by the Indians.

“They’ve got great pursuit,” he said at the time. “I knew it was going to be tough.”

Norton, also headed to UCLA, was everywhere on the field that night, logging tackle after tackle and scoring the first touchdown on a two-yard reception.

Norton, 6-2 and 250 pounds, doesn’t mind playing on the same team as White.

“We’re not talking football . . . yet,” Norton said. “He knows better, probably. But it might be a bitter subject. I won’t wear my [championship] ring to practice or anything.”

The East all-stars are loaded.

White, Norton and lineman Steve Nevarez of San Fernando give the East three all-state players. Linebacker Ray Cassaday, White’s teammate at Valencia, was second-team all-state.

East Coach Mike Herrington of Hart was selected state coach of the year by Cal-Hi Sports.

But Norton is cautious. He watched Kyle Boller, former Hart quarterback, play in the game last year and remembers a hard-hitting affair.

“Last year, the [West] team didn’t care about winning,” Norton said. “They just wanted to knock out the most guys.”

One guy Norton won’t have to worry about tackling on Saturday is White. For once.

WHAT

East-West All-Star

Football Game

WHEN

6:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE

Cal State Northridge

TICKETS

$7 adults, $3.50 children

12 and under