Tests negative on Arroyo QB Steven Rivera’s ankle … likely to miss 2-3 weeks …

Arroyo quarterback/safety Steven Rivera is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with a severely sprained ankle.

Tests on the ankle revealed no fractures and what was thought to be an injury that would keep the junior standout sidelined for 4-6 weeks will be only be 2-3 weeks. That means the Knights will likely have Rivera when they face Rosemead on Oct. 22.

Aram’s take: Knights coach Jim Singiser called the test results “great news”. Hopefully, he’s right and we get to see one of the area’s brightest talents back on the field in no time. Singiser also said the leg is purple from calf to foot. Scary. Arroyo will be really up against it this week against Hart, but fortunately they have a bye right after and then a date against La Canada.

All-Encompassing SGV(N) Top 25 going into Week 3 …


No. 2 Glendora’s brain trust needs to figure out a way to slow WestCo

1. Bishop Amat (3-0) — 16.4 average margin of victory. Man, these guys stink!
2. Glendora (3-0) — All the Tartans do is win. Remember that, WestCo.
3. St. Francis (2-0) — Knights are good, but are they Mission League good?
4. Chino Hills (2-1) — Your team would fly up the rankings, too … if it beat Tesoro.
5. Bonita (3-0) — If this is how the ‘Cats play when shorthanded, then …
6. La Habra (1-2) — Stepping up isn’t working out well, but LH is still quality
7. Ayala (3-0) — The quiet Sierra Leage contender put up 61 last week!
8. Charter Oak (2-1) — Get the feeling Big Lou wants CO improvement kept quiet
9. Rowland (3-0) — Went through Rosemead with ease, how good are Raiders?
10. Damien (2-0) — Holy War with Amat looms on Friday
11. Covina (3-0) — Is it official? Are Colts the Valle Vista League favorites?
12. West Covina (2-1) — Brutalized South Hills, but can they do the same to Glendora?
13. Whittier Chrsitian (3-0) — Heralds win, but others move up due to competition.
14. Monrovia (1-1) — The moment M-Town’s been waiting for is Friday night
15. Arroyo (3-0) — If Rivera can be back in time for Rosemead, Knights will be OK
16. Azusa (2-0) — I’m preparing you now to see Aztecs in top 10 at some point.
17. South Hills (1-1) — Doesn’t get any easier for SH with trip deep into the OC
18. Claremont (2-1) — Aram the ‘Pack apologist reminds you they’ve been shorthanded
19. Cantwell (2-0) — I’m already looking forward to the Whittier Chistian game
20. La Mirada (1-2) — Got much-needed win over Cal, now it’s time to streak?
21. Diamond Bar (3-0) — I’m just as stunned as you are … but 3-0 is 3-0
22. Muir (1-2) — Mustangs need to get healthy in time for league
23. La Canada (2-0) — We’ll find out what Spartans are about in CV game
24. Santa Fe (1-1) — Hard to fault close loss to Bonita too much
25. San Dimas (1-2) — Saints can calm all fears by beating Monrovia

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.

EXCLUSIVE: Muir locker room speech minutes before Amat game …


Aram’s take:
This was a very AWESOME moment and I want to thank Mustangs coach Ken Howard and his staff for giving me access to one of the most private moments a team can have and especially allowing me to have it before a huge game like Amat. I have to say, this Muir team is a very cool group of kids. Same with the coaches. They have been nothing but great to us as far as access. Pasadena needs to get behind these kids. They deserve it!