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No longer toiling in obscurity MT photo file North Medford running back Manny Alegria has helped carry the Black Tornado into the Class 4A state playoffs. The senior, who started the year on the bench, has blossomed into one of the best backs in the SOC this season. Thanks to his mother, North�s Manny Alegria has grown into a star on the gridiron for the Black Tornado this year. By Don Hunt Mail Tribune When Manny Alegria entered McLoughlin Middle School in the fall of 1996, he had no intention of playing football. "I was too busy playing video games and running around with friends," he says. And those were precisely the reasons that Julia Alegria � Manny�s mother � marched him down to the field on that September afternoon and told the coach that her son needed a uniform, a helmet and, if needed, a swift kick in the behind. As a single parent raising four kids, Julia Alegria, who works at an electronics factory in White City, knew that one of the worst things her offspring could get their hands on after school was three or four hours of spare time with no adult supervision. Five years later, Manny Alegria is still playing football. He has emerged as the star running back on a North Medford High team that meets Sunset in the first round of the state playoffs. Kickoff is tonight at 7 at Hillsboro Stadium in Hillsboro. The game is being televised live on Charter Channel 75 and can also be heard on KMED Radio (AM-1440). "I�ve got to thank my mom for getting me started in football," says Alegria, who was born in Illinois and moved to Medford when he was in the fifth grade. "I really liked it once I started playing it, but I doubt I would have ever gotten into it without her." Alegria was a standout player in middle school as he was named his team�s MVP in both the seventh and eighth grades. But largely because of injuries, he has toiled in obscurity for most of his high school career. While running backs Phil Ouellette and Justin MacLauchlan made touchdown after touchdown and headline after headline in leading the Black Tornado to a 13-1 record and a runner-up finish in the state playoffs last season, Alegria hobbled along on a sprained ankle and rarely saw the field except on special teams. Rod Rumrey, who coached last season�s team until retiring at the end of the year, raved about Alegria�s ability and potential but was left wondering if he would ever be able to showcase it. Alegria found himself playing behind MacLauchlan at the start of this season but was finally thrust into the starting lineup on Oct. 5 when North Medford played Klamath Union. Alegria responded with 154 yards rushing and three touchdowns to fuel the Tornado to a 45-0 victory. One week later, he ran for 147 yards and four touchdowns and added two kickoff returns for scores during a 62-30 victory over Ashland. In his five starts, Alegria has totaled 811 yards and 15 touchdowns, including a career-high 229-yard performance during last Friday�s 31-28 victory over South Medford. Not coincidentally, the Tornado has won all five games and carries a 7-2 record into tonight�s contest against 8-1 Sunset. "It�s been a lot of fun," Alegria says. "I�m finally healthy and getting the chance to prove myself. "I�m just running hard and using my natural ability." North Medford quarterback Travis Poulton wouldn�t trade Alegria for any other running back in the Southern Oregon Conference. "He�s as fast as any back in this league and probably stronger than any of them," Poulton says. Indeed, Alegria has the speed to go the distance, as he did last Friday when he raced 48 yards to paydirt against South Medford, and strong enough to consistently grind out the tough yards. That strength is the result of Alegria�s extensive time spent in the weight room. Although not particularly big at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Alegria outlifts many of the Tornado linemen. He has hoisted 265 pounds in the bench press, 445 pounds in the squat rack and 245 in the clean and jerk, impressive numbers for someone his size. "I started lifting when I was a freshman and liked it a lot," he says. Alegria has a large entourage of aunts, uncles and cousins who show up at the North Medford games. But his biggest fan is and always has been his mother. Not even open heart surgery to install an artificial valve five years ago has been able to keep Julia Alegria from her job and Manny�s games. "She�s a special lady," Manny Alegria says. And thanks to her prodding, her son is a special back. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.