Lance Orender is packing his bags for Grand Forks, N.D., in yet another attempt to prove people wrong about his football future.

Orender led Northern California in passing for Fresno City College this past season and set or tied 11 school records in a two-year career that some day will land him on the program's Wall of Fame.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder out of Buchanan High said he made an oral commitment to North Dakota this week and plans to fly out and enroll in classes on Monday. Fighting Sioux coaches, per NCAA rules, aren't permitted to discuss recruits until they sign letters of intent.

Orender had little interest from four-year schools except North Dakota, which joins the Big Sky Conference next season.

"It's just time I go off and do something on my own," said Orender, who was named Valley Conference and Region I Offensive Player of the Year. "It's the only school I could transfer to in mid-year. I thought it was important to have a semester to learn the offense.

"I hope to do the same thing at North Dakota I did at City -- set all the records and give them a chance to win a league championship."

Orender led the Rams to an 18-4 record and two Valley Conference titles with berths in the Northern California championship game after being overlooked by four-year colleges.

Even Fresno City coach Tony Caviglia admitted he tried to recruit Buchanan teammate Taylor Genuser over Orender coming out of high school, despite Orender throwing for 4,662 yards and 42 touchdowns while completing 64% of his attempts over two seasons and earning 2009 Tri-River Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

"That's why I'm not surprised where I landed," Orender said. "I use it as motivation to get better, to show people they misjudged me."

Said Caviglia: "Bigger schools were waiting down the line on him, but it was too much of a gamble. He can go in at North Dakota, learn the system, understand what it takes to compete at that level, then hopefully take over the job."

North Dakota, 8-3 last season including a 27-22 loss at Fresno State, runs a pro-style offense similar to Fresno City. The Fighting Sioux return three backup quarterbacks, 942-yard rusher Jake Miller and their top four receivers.

"Lance is a pretty valuable commodity in that kind of system," Caviglia said.

"He can make throws in the pocket and win games throwing the ball."

Orender suffered a right clavicle sprain late last season and sat out one game. But, he said, "it's nothing that hinders me now.

"I was hoping for something better, but as long as I have an opportunity and a scholarship, that's all I need. With almost the entire offense coming back, I think we'll do some sweet things."

All-Region team unveiled

Orender was named Region I Offensive Player of the Year on the All-California Community College Football Team.

Orender completed 195 of 332 passes (58.7%) and led NorCal in yards (3,181) and touchdowns (38) in 10 games in the Rams' 10-1 season.

Joining Orender on the offensive first team were Rams sophomore wide receiver Trent Hicks, freshman offensive lineman James Funk (Buchanan) and Reedley sophomore kick returner Lonnie Powell.

The Rams also placed five sophomores on the first team defense: lineman Corey Childs, linebacker Caleb Justice (Bullard), defensive backs Dashean Frierson (Edison) and Donnell Vercher (Clovis), and punter Justin Weldon (Liberty-Madera Ranchos).

City College of San Francisco's George Rush was Region I Coach of the Year, and his top linebacker, Markus Pierce-Brewster, was Defensive Player of the Year in voting by the California Community College Football Coaches Association. West Hills had three players on the Region II team: sophomore offensive lineman Isreal Kinlow, running back Shane Cams and linebacker Eroni Foifua.