Arroyo QB Steven Rivera in a soft cast, out next week, maybe longer …

Arroyo quarterback Steven Rivera is in a soft cast and walking with crutches after suffering an ankle injury in Friday’s win over Montebello.

The ankle is not broken, according to Knights coach Jim Singiser.

Eddie Federico will replace Rivera this week when the Knights take on Hart. Federico led the Knights back from a late deficit to beat Montebello. Arroyo has a bye the following week and will be re-evaluated then.

Aram’s take: Singiser said that this is why his team throws so much in summer. Great point. I’ll go one further, this is why all those inter-division Mid-Valley games are very important. Do you see what I’m talking about now? Hopefully, Rivera can be back in time for league. This is a potentially disastrous development for Arroyo, as the Knights have serious aspirations of a deep run in the Mid-Valley Division playoffs, and a repeat Mission Valley League title is no lock now. All of that, of course, is second to the fact that Rivera is one of the best talents around at QB and safety, and him losing a significant chunk of a junior would suck for him and area fans.