Kentridge RB Alex Ferguson returns from ACL injury

Alex Ferguson knew right away it was bad. He also knew that his football season likely was over even before last September was.

“The doctor said I sprained it. But I’ve sprained my knee before, and I could tell it wasn’t a sprain,” the Kentridge High standout said.

Ferguson was unfortunately right: Torn ACL, torn miniscus in his right knee, coming against Tahoma on Sept. 14, the third game of the season. The closest he would get to football action for the rest of his junior year would be the sidelines.

Now, Ferguson is back in the action, primarily at his accustomed running back spot, but also as an outside linebacker. And that could give the Chargers an extra edge in what is looming as a competitive South Puget Sound League North Division that many people in the know see as being up for grabs.

“That combination of modern medicine and hard work, he really came back well,” KR coach Marty Osborn said of the finely honed, 6-foot, 200-pound Ferguson. “He’s stronger than he was before the injury. He came back last year and was pretty much ready to go by soccer season (this past spring).

“It was a remarkable recovery.”

Even without one of their better ground weapons in the fold (in the two-plus games he played, Ferguson had 75 yards on 22 carries), the Chargers stayed in the division title hunt right up to a Week 8 game against Federal Way. Kentridge had a 21-7 third-quarter lead before the Eagles came back to force overtime and eventually win it, 27-21. That effectively clinched the division title for Federal Way. KR wound up in a tie for second with Kentwood at 5-2, then saw Mariner rally from a 17-7 fourth-quarter deficit and snag a 21-17 victory in the regional playoffs.

With his senior season upon him, Ferguson wants more than a regional berth. And based on what he has seen through the first few days of practice, he seems confident that the Chargers can take it farther than in 2007.

“We have young players coming up, but our line and our key backups are real strong,” he said. “Our defense is looking real good, too.”

Though he says he prefers football, Ferguson also is quite good in futbol, too, as a standout goalkeeper for Kentridge. Splitting time between the pipes with Nik Sever, Ferguson earned honorable mention All-SPSL status on the soccer field last spring.

But the gridiron always has provided him with a particular outlet – one that was especially important during his grade school and junior high days.

“I had a short temper when I was younger,” Ferguson said, adding that he has grown past that issue. “I always like contact (in football) and being able to hit people without getting into trouble. Plus, I get to meet a whole bunch (of friends).”

Osborn saw evidence of the increased maturity even when Ferguson was a freshman and sophomore.

Saw evidence of his talent, too.

“He played as a freshman and played running back, kicker, punter and defense. As a sophomore, partly because he played soccer with older kids, he fit right in and ended up starting every game sophomore year and ended up being a second-team all-league tailback,” Osborn recalled. “Coming into his junior year, he had high expectations and started at linebacker and running back and kicker.”

Then, those expectations took that painful twist — on nothing more than an ordinary football play.

“I cut wrong and wasn’t centered,” Ferguson recalled. “It was a completely routine move.”

Added Osborn, “You watch it on film, and it looks like he just rolled the ankle a little bit. After the game, he walks off the field, and everything.”

For Ferguson, the injury healed quickly – a few weeks less than the six months it was supposed to take. The rest was simply a case of winning the mind game.

“When I first game back, I was kind of scared to start cutting again,” Ferguson said. “By the time I got back to full swing, I would say it was pretty much mostly mental.”

It all made goal-setting for this fall an easy task.

“My top five (goals) are to stay healthy,” Ferguson said with a grin. “I just want to contribute to the team and make it back this year.”

And make it well beyond September, too.

KENTRIDGE CHARGERS

AT A GLANCE

• Coach: Marty Osborn, 18th season.

• Last season: 5-2 in SPSL North play, tied for second in the division; 6-4 overall.

• Offense: Shotgun spread.

• Defense: 3-5/5-3.

• Top returners (Name, year, position, height/weight): Devin Topps, jr., TB/ILB, 6-2/215; Russell Turpin, Sr., OC/DT, 6-4/240; Alex Ferguson, sr., TB/LB/K/P, 6-0/197; Dylan Zylstra, jr., OL/DE, 6-4/215; Wes Concepcion, so., K, 5-10/150; Brandon Inman, jr., WR, 5-7/145; Jaden Cox, jr., OL/DL, 6-4/255; Brandon Peterson, sr., OT, 6-6/235; Byron Benson, sr., WR/DB, 5-9/165; Austin Robinson, jr., OL/DL, 6-4/255.

• Key newcomers (Name, year, position, height/weight): Alex Manso, sr., WR/FS/QB, 5-11/170; Harrison Rosane, jr., ILB; Matt Campos, sr., 5-11/210; Jon Kwon, jr., OL/LB, 5-10/215; Ian Anderson, jr., WR/QB, 5-9/160; Jason Didis, jr., WR/DB, 6-2/190; Nico White, jr., WR/LB, 5-10/170.

• Outlook: Some teams used blue-chippers to find success, others are of the blue-collar variety who work for everything they get – and wind up getting a lot. Kentridge could fit the latter description in 2008. “We don’t have that one or two superstars, but we have some pretty good players, a lot of guys who have been role players, guys who rotated last year and are kind of stepping up,” coach Marty Osborn said. Take senior Alex Manso, for instance. He played JV quarterback two years ago, moved up to varsity and was a starting wide receiver last year, and now is the starting quarterback. Manso, Russ Turpin, Jaden Cox and Devin Topps and Dylan Zylstra are solid two-way players. And the fact remains that the North Division has that wide-open feel about it. “Teams swing from being .500 to being 8-1, capable of going either way,” Osborn said. “We’re in the mix. It’s kind of who gets momentum, who steps up, who stays healthy.”

• Can’t-miss game: Sure, the inner-city rivalries with Kentlake, Kentwood and Kent-Meridian always are good, but rest assured, the Chargers have had Sept. 19 at Federal Way circled on their calendar for quite some time. Kentridge fell to Federal Way 27-21 in overtime last year in Week 8, a defeat that cost the Chargers a chance at the league title. Federal Way is pegged by many to be the favorite this season, meaning a Kentridge win would go a long way in regards to playoff positioning.

LAST FIVE YEARS

YEAR RECORD

2007 5-2

2006 5-2

2005 3-5

2004 5-3

2003 4-4

SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT TIME

9-5 vs. Kentlake 7 p.m.

9-13 vs. Jefferson 7 p.m.

9-19 at Federal Way 7 p.m.

9-25 at Bethel (NL) 7 p.m.

10-2 at Auburn 7 p.m.

10-11 vs. Tahoma 7 p.m.

10-17 at A. Riverside 7 p.m.

10-24 vs. Kentwood 7 p.m.

10-30 at Kent-Meridian 7 p.m.