Rowland's Michael Ball won't return for South Hills, but the playoffs are a strong possibility

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Rowland quarterback Michael Ball will not suit up when the CIF-Southern Section Southeast Division's No. 3 Raiders (8-1, 2-1) play host to No. 2 South Hills (7-3, 3-0) on Friday for a piece of the San Antonio League title. Ball broke his collarbone in a 27-17 victory over Walnut on Oct. 16 and is making steady improvement toward a possible return for the first round of the playoffs next week, although a second-round appearance is more likely should the Raiders advance that far. When Ball was healthy, the Raiders were undefeated and the top-ranked team in the division. As a sophomore he led the Raiders to the Southeast semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion Charter Oak. To continue, click thread

"Michael has been bouncing around, but he's still a little tender to the touch," Rowland Craig Schuster said. "He's seeing a doctor and getting X-rays this week. But we're hopeful we can get him back at some point. We just hope it's not too late."

This makes Friday's game pivotal for the Raiders. They could create a three-way tie for first along with West Covina, assuming the Bulldogs defeat Nogales. That would leave coin flips to determine the top three playoff spots.

If the Raiders lose they will finish third and have to play a league champion on the road in the first round of the playoffs, not a direction Snyder wants to go without Ball.

"When you finish third you never know what CIF's going to do with you," Snyder said. "We've got a chance at home to help ourselves on Friday. South Hills is an awfully difficult team the way they're playing right now, but we feel like we're a better team than the one that lost to West Covina."

That was the Raiders' only loss, a 32-10 setback.

"We had six turnovers in that game," Snyder said. "I thought we played well defensively, but six turnovers against any team is hard to overcome."

With Ball out, running back Josh Onouvughe has taken over. He rushed for 240 yards and four touchdowns in last week's 42-20 victory over Nogales and has rushed for 1,201 yards and 13 touchdowns overall.

But Snyder's not sure he can keep up that pace if backup quarterback Leonardo Freeman doesn't get going. He completed just four passes for 10 yards in the loss to West Covina and attempted only seven passes against Nogales.

"If we're going to do anything, we have to be able to pass the football," Snyder said. "Obviously you can't turn the ball over, but if we don't improve our passing game we could be in for a long night."

18 Comments

Anonymous said:

It isn't Walnut that plays dirty. It's #88 that was playing dirty. If Coleman did that to a South Hills player, the game would be canceled because I'm pretty sure the whole South Hills team will try to kill him. That didn't happen and South Hills aren't in the San Antonio League so that wouldn't happen. He should have been suspended for injuring Michael Ball. He got away with only a 15 yard penalty. He got lucky Michael wasn't killed and that the Ball family didn't sue him.

Coleman better not do it again next year cause he won't get away with a 15 yard penalty every single time. Don't expect all teams to be like Rowland. Some teams like South Hills play dirty.

WALNUT FAN said:

SGV i completely agree with you that Fred is a walnut hater
btw if you would have seen how dirty the south hills JV team played against walnut especially that little brat jaime canada it honestly showed how unclassy South Hills is, not just the players but the coaches as well as the school overall

Stop drinking the Kool-Aid! said:

cockeyed,

Be very careful of what comments you post because everyone in the know understands the dark side of South Hills that lurks this year and even though everyone is pretending to be hush hush about some very sensitive and potential volatile subjects if you come on here and pretend to project an image of your beloved Huskies that really are more like the Raiders someone may blow the whistle hard and I mean really hard. Be quiet and keep your comments to yourself or the skeletons and dirty laundry will be leaked to the public.

south hills said:

How about printing a story about how the South HIlls players were taunting him with their coaches standing right there listening during the pre-game last week? Oh wait you can't print that your beloved South Hills might get mad at you. Colemans' reaction to these efforts to antagonize him? He goes out and plays the game with no incidents.


why not put in that story how the idiot of a walnut coach went to do drills on south hills' side of the field near the 50 yd line. i know for sure i saw 2 coaches and then bogan telling his guys to shut up!

cockeyed Author Profile Page said:

i'm not sure if my first msg. went through. south hills is good. lets not forget. they would be nothing without a great O-LINE lead by senior #50. yes its my son. the best center in the valley. the whole line is awesome from one side to another. ask vaunghs and shirley.

cockeyed Author Profile Page said:

fred. i listen to your preview on the huskie/radier game tomorrow. all i hear is vaunghs this vaunghs that. shirley this shirley that. i know both of these kids. and yes they are all that, both fine young men. but lets face it. these numbers dont come without a O-LINE. SOUTH HILLS O-LINE IS HUGE. and yes my son is the senoir leader on that line. #50. just remember people you have nothing without a great O-LINE. i wish the entire team the best of luck. this a good group of young men.

SGV For 30 Years said:

Seems like all the LA people have done all year is whine about their poor LA and how they have fallen from the elite programs of the SGV. They have placed the blame everywhere they can find. Coach Aguilar has taken a beating on this blog. Not many of you have pointed out that is was a mess over there before he took over. Shouldn't he get the same chance Gano got to right the ship? Here is some reality about that area. The talent pool is not very deep (more like a wading pool). Hasn't been for quite sometime. Gano saw it coming. He got out before his image could be tarnished. Unfortunatly for Felipe we live in a time when people can leave for greener grass everytime they get their little feelings hurt. Some of those player that left LA are finding out that greener grass means more mowing.

SGV430 Ouuuut!!

SGV For 30 Years said:

Fred, there you go again trying to start trouble. The people at Walnut have known that for as long as you have been at the Trib, you have been a Walnut hater. You are supposed to be a responsible reporter. Have you once reported that there have been no further incedents involving Coleman this season? But you take it upon yourself to throw him under the bus by posting that picture.....again. How about printing a story about how the South HIlls players were taunting him with their coaches standing right there listening during the pre-game last week? Oh wait you can't print that your beloved South Hills might get mad at you. Colemans' reaction to these efforts to antagonize him? He goes out and plays the game with no incidents.

Looks to me like you are already looking for an excuse when South Hills beats Rowland Friday night. Here is a news flash. Even with Ball at 100% I would take South Hills in this game. They have to many ways to beat you.


SGV430 Ouuut!

Just The Truth said:

I'm going to just say it how it is...South Hills is going all the way..there's really no one that can stop them! Rowland will be smashed by South Hills with or without Ball..and DR..wishful thinking..your team is nowhere close to what it was last year..the only thing you have going for you is Amari Staten..that kid can run the ball..other than that..you probably wont get past the first round if you make it...better luck next year...Go Huskies!

LA Fan said:

diamond ranch,

i was at the game and though Los Altos lost we were knocking u guys out, how many injured guys left the field during the game?? exactly

diamond ranch said:

LA,

come on we all know los altos doesn't have any key players on that team. We DR are just that much stronger faster and tougher than los altos. I cant wait to hear what charter oak is going to do to you tomorrow.

LA said:

You have teams that are taught how to take out kids, and Diamond Ranch is one of them. They came out their with the intent to take out our key players. They targeted them and did what ever it took to take them out. That is the dirtiest team we have ever played.

Tech Support said:

I'm not so sure that with Ball that South Hills would be a lock to win this game. Rowland has always played South Hills pretty tight and Ball makes them a very different team on both sides of the ball. Would have been a great game if he was in there.

WHT DO PARENTS GET DRUNK AT GAMES??? said:


Every time I see pictures of high school kids suffering what could be life threatening injuries I wonder what kind of dirt bag parent goes to see their kids play sports while intoxicated. I can only imagine trying to understand what's going on around you as the ambulance carts your chld off to the hospital or worst....in a helicopter.

I agree, going to pro and collegiate games are different for one reason, your child is playing...for the most part.

Maybe I'm missing something but if your child is a star player aren't you most likely going to be congratulated by other parents during the game...and that's what you want people to remember...that you're drunk off your a$$ and to stupid to understand what an impression you're leaving on everyone.

End of lecture....Ball was very fortunate...other's haven't been.

Poo tangs said:

Snaaaaaaaaap! thuggery at it's best. Aubrey Coleman should have been diqualified for the season. Hope Rowland hangs in there without and we get to see MB on the field again this season.

D-Mo said:

That picture reminds me how lucky MB is not to have broken his neck.
With or without Ball, there's no way the Raiders beat SH this Friday. Huskies look like they are on a roll.

i agree said:

i agree
i feel ball's pain, and i am sitting behind my computer

SGV FOOTBALL said:

Yo Fred,

Stop posting this pic it hurts just looking at it.

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Fred Robledo

Fred Robledo is the Prep Sports Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. E-mail me your opinions, story ideas or tips to fred.robledo@sgvn.com.

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This page contains a single entry by Fred Robledo published on November 11, 2009 11:03 AM.

Cross Country: Check out who did well at league finals meets; CIF Prelims Saturday at Mt. SAC was the previous entry in this blog.

Two-Minute Drill: Robledo and Miller discuss this week's top football games is the next entry in this blog.

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Anonymous on Rowland's Michael Ball won't return for South Hills, but the playoffs are a strong possibility: It isn't Walnut that plays dirty. It's #88 that was playing dirty. If ...

WALNUT FAN on Rowland's Michael Ball won't return for South Hills, but the playoffs are a strong possibility: SGV i completely agree with you that Fred is a walnut hater btw if yo ...

Stop drinking the Kool-Aid! on Rowland's Michael Ball won't return for South Hills, but the playoffs are a strong possibility: cockeyed, Be very careful of what comments you post because everyone ...

south hills on Rowland's Michael Ball won't return for South Hills, but the playoffs are a strong possibility: How about printing a story about how the South HIlls players were tau ...

cockeyed on Rowland's Michael Ball won't return for South Hills, but the playoffs are a strong possibility: i'm not sure if my first msg. went through. south hills is good. lets ...

cockeyed on Rowland's Michael Ball won't return for South Hills, but the playoffs are a strong possibility: fred. i listen to your preview on the huskie/radier game tomorrow. all ...

SGV For 30 Years on Rowland's Michael Ball won't return for South Hills, but the playoffs are a strong possibility: Seems like all the LA people have done all year is whine about their p ...

SGV For 30 Years on Rowland's Michael Ball won't return for South Hills, but the playoffs are a strong possibility: Fred, there you go again trying to start trouble. The people at Walnu ...

Just The Truth on Rowland's Michael Ball won't return for South Hills, but the playoffs are a strong possibility: I'm going to just say it how it is...South Hills is going all the way. ...

LA Fan on Rowland's Michael Ball won't return for South Hills, but the playoffs are a strong possibility: diamond ranch, i was at the game and though Los Altos lost we were k ...

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