Breaking of White’s Rushing Record an Eye-Opener for Crespi Football Staff

Crespi High football coaches Tim Lins and Joel Wilker were still wiping the sleep from their eyes at school Saturday morning, supervising players during a weight-lifting session, when a newspaper story attracted Wilker’s attention.

A rather notable state rushing record by a notable Crespi alumnus--former All-American Russell White--had been washed away Friday night.

“We were sitting there when Joel said, ‘Hey, look, some guy just broke Russell’s record,’ ” said Lins, who along with Wilker was an assistant during White’s career.

White’s career mark of 5,998 yards was broken Friday by David Dotson of Valley View High in Moreno Valley. Dotson has 6,009 yards in his career and has rushed for 2,286 yards in six games this season. He also set a state single-game mark when he rushed for 507 yards in Valley View’s 56-0 victory over Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World on Friday.

Dotson’s statistics caught Crespi’s staff by surprise. In fact, like many area fans, Lins and Wilker did not know who Dotson is.

“I was surprised,” Lins said. “I hadn’t heard of the guy until I saw it in the paper. I don’t know how good their team is or anything.”

Valley View competes at the Southern Section Division VIII level. Among West Coast college prospects, Dotson was ranked just ahead of Alemany’s Terry Barnum by SuperPrep magazine.

White, now a tailback at Cal, started for Crespi from 1986-88. Crespi won the Southern Section Big Five Conference title (now Division I) during White’s 2,339-yard sophomore campaign in 1986.