Twists of fate ... er, ankles
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Palos Verdes senior tailback Robert Gregorio and St. John Bosco junior receiver Will Shamburger each left their teams’ games with right-ankle injuries during the third quarter Friday night.
Shamburger was helped off the field of the Braves’ game against Servite with a sprained ankle and spent the rest of the night perched atop a sideline medical table, his foot and lower leg wrapped in ice bags.
He could not help the Braves in their 31-13 Trinity League loss to Servite, but Shamburger still hopes to play in the team’s next game against Santa Margarita.
Gregorio suffered a broken lower right fibula on a play near the Sea Kings’ sideline and exited in the third quarter of the team’s game against Redondo.
‘When he went down, the first thing he said was, ‘It feels like it’s broken,’ and unfortunately, he was right,’ Palos Verdes Coach Pat Fresch said.
‘He’s pretty much done. If it would’ve happened at midseason, he might’ve had a chance to come back for the playoffs, but right now, I think his season’s probably over.’
Despite the absence of Gregorio, the team’s leading rusher with 772 yards and 15 touchdowns in 128 carries, not all was lost as the Sea Kings defeated Redondo, 35-16, in a Bay League game at Redondo.
Palos Verdes, which is riding a three-game winning streak and has won six of its last seven games, will turn to others to fill the void.
Junior Joey Gonzalez filled in well once Gregorio went to the sideline Friday, and reserves Jamel Guerrero and Victor Mancusi also could see more carries in upcoming games.
While Gregorio will sit out the Sea Kings’ regular-season finale against visiting Peninsula on Friday, two other players -- defensive ends Matt Templin and Nick Tomich -- are expected to return after recent injuries.
Templin, a senior, has recovered from a broken tibia, and Tomich, a sophomore, has recovered from a back injury. Both players suited up but did not play against Redondo.
-- Lauren Peterson
-- Image from www.aafp.org