TODAY’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Senteno All the Way Back From Hard Fall

Vance Senteno, a Golden West College sophomore, has taken plenty of hard hits as a football player.

Senteno started playing tailback in a youth league when he was 7 and continued at that position at Westminster High School and Golden West.

But the hardest hit he ever took didn’t take place near a football field. It happened while he was skiing at a local resort shortly after the end of his senior season at Westminster in 1990.

He was riding on a lift when the clamp holding the chair to the wire gave way. The chair slid back along the cable, slamming into one behind. Senteno, despite hanging on the best he could, was thrown free and fell about 50 feet to the snow-covered mountain.

“I couldn’t hold on for my life,� he said. “I felt a boom, then I felt like a noodle.�

When he hit the steep slope, he rolled about 150 yards. Senteno was taken to the hospital taped to a board so he wouldn’t move; after an extensive examination, he was found to have no broken bones or major internal injuries.

“At first I couldn’t move,� he said. “I thought I was paralyzed. But the reason I think I didn’t get hurt more was that I was so limber from being hit so much during football.�

The accident was part of the reason Senteno sat out the 1991 season at Golden West. He worked out with the team during the summer but was one of about 20 going out for two running back positions.

“My body wasn’t feeling up to par,� he said. “I just felt like the timing wasn’t right.�

Senteno worked part-time with his father painting houses and took a few classes. He returned to Golden West last season and started at running back the final month.

This season, he and Eddie Benson split time, but Senteno has been more impressive lately, gaining 656 yards and scoring nine touchdowns.

Senteno had his best college game last Saturday, rushing for 155 yards and three touchdowns--all in the fourth quarter--as the Rustlers rallied to beat Rancho Santiago, 24-14.

The night was even more special because Christina Maisano, his girlfriend of four years, was selected as Golden West’s homecoming queen at halftime.

“That game was a dream-come-true for me,� Senteno said. “Right at the end of halftime I went up and kissed her, and she told me to get her a touchdown. After the game, she came up to me, and I told her ‘I thought you said three.’ �

In today’s Mission Conference Central Division games:

Fullerton (3-5, 0-3) vs. Rancho Santiago (2-5-1, 0-3), Santa Ana Stadium, 1:30 p.m.--The teams first played in 1916, and Fullerton leads the series, 33-32-4. This game isn’t as meaningful as some have been, but the winner should avoid finishing last in the division. Fullerton’s Vince Wilson has 50 catches for 871 yards and eight touchdowns. Rancho Santiago’s Donnie Bladow has rushed for 821 yards in 119 carries.

Golden West (4-4, 2-1) at Riverside (4-4, 3-0)--Riverside, which has won four in a row, can clinch at least a title tie. Golden West must stop Riverside’s rushing game to have a chance. The Tigers lead the conference with 243 yards per game and had 309 in the 24-22 victory over Orange Coast last Saturday. Golden West’s Steve Walker is 93 of 167 for 975 yards and six touchdowns.

Orange Coast (5-3, 2-1) at Saddleback (5-3, 2-1)--Orange Coast’s Jeff Clayton, with 1,013 yards, is the fifth Pirate back to top 1,000. Orange Coast has the conference’s top-ranked defense, allowing 288 yards per game. Saddleback is third at 308.