ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE FOOTBALL: CHANGE IS GOOD AVC'S MANOR FINDS DEFENSE TO HIS LIKING.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Jamie Manor was sick of the grind. The sacks and the late hits he took as a high school quarterback took a toll on him and he was ready for a change.

Manor came to Antelope Valley College as a freshman last season prepared to play defense. He had spent the previous summer at Weber State, which had recruited him out of Clark High of Las Vegas.

He enrolled at AVC a week before practices began because he wasn't happy at Weber State, where he was tried at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. However, he wanted to play defense.

``I felt like I needed to start doing some hitting,'' he said. ``I was like, 'I can't take all this,' so I thought I'd be a better fit on defense.''

Manor has fit in nicely at strong safety at AVC. He leads the Marauders with 87 tackles, 37 of which were unassisted.

AVC (7-3) will be counting on him to make more big plays on Saturday against host Bakersfield College (8-2) in the Shrine Potato Bowl. Opening kickoff is 1:15 p.m.

Manor's statistics reveal just a fraction of what he's contributed to the team, Marauders coach Brent Carder said.

``He's a core guy as far as keeping the team together, he keeps the team focused really well,'' Carder said. ``We have a lot of guys (on the team) who are leaders, but he's a little more verbal.''

AVC secondary coach Joe Watts said the strong safety is especially important in the Marauders' 4-4 defensive scheme.

``He's like the quarterback of our defense,'' Watts said. ``He's got the best seat in the house and he's the only one who can see everything going on in front of him so when they (opposing offenses) make changes in their formations he's the one that calls out the adjustments.

``His leadership and the way he's played on the field has meant everything to us on defense.''

Manor also strives to be a leader outside away from football. He volunteers summers counseling kids. He's majoring in sociology and plans to work with troubled teens as a probation officer in the future.

He grew up in western Las Vegas, a rough area where gangs and drugs are pervasive. The local community center, he said, was crucial to keeping him and others out of trouble and he's eager to help keep others on the right path.

``A lot of kids don't feel like they have a lot of people to look up to,'' he said. ``If I can be a role model, I will.''

Manor has also worked for a local newspaper in the Antelope Valley covering youth sports events. ``It's good for the kids,'' he said. ``When you talk to them after a game, it lets them know that they're doing something positive.''

Manor was convinced to come to AVC by running back DeAndra Cobb, his former high school teammate. Manor admits he expected community college ball to be ridiculously easy compared with Division I.

``When I got here, I found out it wasn't like that at all,'' he said. ``There are a lot of really good players in JC. Coming here made me a much better player.''

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(color) Defensive back Jamie Manor of Antelope Valley College has made the adjustment from offense and is one of the better players in the Foothill Conference.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer