Channel Islands to Battle Tonight Without Patton

Russell Patton, the region’s fifth-leading rusher among Southern Section players, will not play for Channel Islands High tonight when the Raiders play at Arroyo Grande in a first-round Division IV game.

Patton, who has 1,283 yards and 15 touchdowns, suffered a concussion against Rio Mesa last week and Coach Jack Willard of Channel Islands said the senior has not been cleared by his doctor.

Greg Rountree, Camarillo’s leading rusher with 580 yards, will play tonight against Santa Barbara in a Southern Section Division IV first-round playoff game, offensive coordinator Scott Cline said.

Rountree suffered injuries in a car crash two weeks ago and missed Camarillo’s last two games.

Freddy Keiaho, Buena’s second-leading rusher with 676 yards and eight touchdowns, will play tonight against Moorpark in a first-round Southern Section Division IV game, Coach Rick Scott said.

Keiaho, who suffered a chipped bone in his ankle earlier this season, has missed two games with the injury, including a nonleague victory last week over Oxnard.

Scott said Cody Murphy, Buena’s leading receiver with 38 catches for 473 yards and seven touchdowns, is questionable because of a sprained ankle.

VOLLEYBALL

Taft High has never been past the first round, let alone advance to a championship match, in the 15 years Coach Doug Magorien has been there.

Tonight the Toreadors play Fremont for the City Section girls’ volleyball Division Championship at Occidental College at 5:30 p.m.

Taft (10-4) was not selected for the City Championship, the higher of two playoff brackets. Four of the Toreadors’ top seven players are sophomores.

“We’re building on this as a guide for next year on how to win the City Championship,” Magorien said.

TRACK AND FIELD

Tiffany Thompson, a senior at St. Bernard High who helped Notre Dame to a fifth-place finish in the 1,600-meter relay in the state track and field championships in June, has committed to Purdue.

BASKETBALL

Eric Rohwer, a 6-foot-9 senior at Burbank High, has signed a letter of intent with San Diego State.