‘The Human Highlight Film’ : That’s How Carson’s Coach Views Top Receiver Michael Ross : Preps: Carson High’s game-breaking pass catcher was watching a local sportscast when he found out he was the star of the show.

Michael Ross was watching television last December when KNBC sportscaster Fred Roggin began his weekly presentation of “Roggin’s Heroes,” a highlight compilation featuring outstanding plays from the world of sports. Roggin: “Let’s go to the Coliseum. . . .”

At the time, Ross thought he was about to see Bo Jackson breaking a long run for the Raiders. Or maybe Rodney Peete making a big play for USC.

Instead, the Carson High School wide receiver was stunned to see himself making “the catch of the week” in the Colts’ 55-7 win over Banning in the L.A. City Section 4-A championship game.

“That was really exciting; I had no idea,” Ross said. “They were showing me jump over a (defensive back), and I’m saying, ‘Oh my God, let me tape this, let me tape this.’ Luckily one of my friends taped it.”

The catch shown in homes throughout Southern California demonstrated the athletic ability of Ross, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior who last week became the most prolific pass receiver in Carson history.

Cut off from the ball by a Banning safety, Ross leaped up and reached in front of the defender to snatch a nine-yard touchdown lob from quarterback Perry Klein.

Carson Coach Gene Vollnogle believes the catch represented a coming of age for Ross, who, over the last two seasons, has progressed from an inexperienced receiver into the team’s human highlight film.

“I think that gave him confidence,” Vollnogle said. “After that, it was like he said, ‘Hey, maybe I am something special.’ ”

The teams that have faced Carson this season would certainly agree.

Ross, who leads the Colts with 33 catches for 632 yards and 10 touchdowns, figures to be one of the key players when Carson (6-1) takes on rival Banning (6-1-1) at 7 tonight before an expected crowd of 15,000 at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach and a national cable television audience.

Struggling to establish a running game, the Colts have relied heavily on a passing attack that features quarterback Armin Youngblood and two outstanding receivers--Ross and Tydus Winans.

Last week was no exception as Ross caught eight passes for a school-record 205 yards and two touchdowns in a 29-8 Pacific League win over Dorsey.

Ross was told after the game by Carson statistician Tim Finney that he had set the record for receiving yardage in a game. What he wasn’t told, however, was that he had become the school career leader in receptions (65), reception yardage (1,266) and touchdown catches (17).

In the process, he surpassed such former Carson receiving greats as Wesley Walker of the New York Jets, Michael Wilson of the San Francisco 49ers, Derek Hill of the Pittsburgh Steelers and ex-Buffalo Bill tight end Joe Shipp.

“I’m really surprised at all this,” Ross said. “To be compared to names like Wesley Walker and Michael Wilson makes me feel special.

“As far as the rest of the season is concerned, I just want to go out and help the team as much as I can. If it calls for setting records, that is what I’ll do.”

Ross’ success can be traced to his determination as much as his ability. Sure, he can run the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and dunk a basketball with two hands. But, according to those who have watched him develop in the last two years, it is his fearlessness that sets him apart.

“Anywhere you put the ball, he’s willing to go get it,” said Youngblood, the Carson quarterback. “His heart is so big, he doesn’t mind going through traffic for the ball.”

Said Vollnogle: “He isn’t afraid to catch one across the middle.”

In accessing Ross’ strengths in the preseason issue of Super Prep magazine, editor Allen Wallace wrote: “Michael makes up for average speed with superior go-to-the-ball ability. He excels at finding holes in the zone.”

Super Prep named Ross to its All-Far West second team, behind Jeremy Smith of Bishop Amat and Kevin Copeland, the Dorsey receiver who died Oct. 6 of a heart attack in a game against San Pedro.

With his credentials, Ross should have his pick of any college. Marginal grades, however, might prevent him from signing with a four-year school. In that event, he said he would probably enroll at El Camino College.

“I regret not taking schoolwork very seriously in ninth and 10th grade,” he said. “My mom and dad were going through a divorce, and it was tough to get (academic) help. I regret not doing it.

“Right now I’m getting B’s, and USC really wants to recruit me. I’m just trying to get into my books, and I plan on getting my grades and passing the (Scholastic Aptitude) Test) if it takes me the rest of the year.”

Although on the field he appears to have played the game his entire life, Ross is a relative newcomer to football. He got his first taste of regulation football two years ago in Pop Warner, and he didn’t try out for Carson’s team until last year as a junior.

But it didn’t take long for Ross to earn a spot in the starting lineup.

“I started out as a defensive back,” he said, “but Coach Vollnogle saw me catch the ball and he asked me to switch over to offense.”

The rest, as they say, is history. Ross beat out two seniors to open the season at wide receiver, and he’s been a fixture there ever since.

“He has great hands and he runs great patterns,” Vollnogle said. “Plus he’s a hard worker. He doesn’t mind blocking.”

If there is a negative side to Ross, Vollnogle said, it’s that the senior likes to talk to opponents. Sometimes he talks too much.

In last week’s win over Dorsey, Ross was accessed a 15-yard penalty for taunting on a 79-yard touchdown reception. The infraction was marked off on the conversion, which Carson missed.

“He’s got some hot-dog in him,” Vollnogle said. “(Friday) I got on his case about it, but he’s a high-strung guy. When that happens, I don’t even think he knows what’s going on.”

To be sure, Ross doesn’t seem to have the personality of a showboat. He is polite and generous with his praise of teammates. Also, he presents himself as a deeply spiritual young man.

“I say a prayer before each game,” he said. “Dorsey was a very nervous game for me because they were out to stop me. I had to find some strength, and I found it through God.

“I felt like it was the game of my life. It just brought something out in me. I never felt that smooth when I ran patterns before. I felt at ease with everything I did. There was no nervousness.”

These days, the jitters belong to the defensive backs who line up across from Ross.

CARSON HIGH’S ALL-TIME LEADING RECEIVERS

By yardage

Rank, Player Years Played Catches Yards Avg. TDs 1. Michael Ross (1988-89) 65 1,266 19.5 17 2. Jamie Williams (1982-83) 64 1,241 19.4 8 3. Wesley Walker (1971-72) 41 1,216 29.6 17 4. Melvin Smith (1983-84) 44 1,024 23.3 9 5. Al Washington (1981*) 44 918 20.9 9 6. Bryan Reeves (1986-87) 41 883 21.5 11 7. Kregg Anderson (1979-81) 49 879 17.8 6 8. Ron Carver (1966-67) 40 857 21.4 17 9. Joe Shipp (1971-72) 38 748 19.7 4 10. Derek Hill (1983-84) 52 680 13.1 5 11. Michael Wilson (1975-76) 31 630 20.3 11

* Played quarterback in 1982.