Ball an early season standout for Riffel
Ethan Ball is a Grade 10 student who is comfortable with the 12s.
Consider his 12-catch, 140-yard outing for the Riffel Royals in Thursday’s season opening, 31-21 Regina Intercollegiate Football League loss to the Miller Marauders.
Despite being only 15, Ball excels against players who are predominantly older, including Grade 12s. His skills were also evident last year, when he made three key receptions on Riffel’s game-winning drive in a Schwann Conference semifinal playoff against the Campbell Tartans.
“That was my best game of the year,” Ball said. “It was pretty nice to beat them and go to the final after making three catches.”
Now he’s hoping that one of those catches will result in a touchdown. He has twice been stopped on the one-yard line since becoming a starting receiver with the 2016 Royals.
It was pointed out to Ball that Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Rob Bagg scored his first CFL touchdown after being stopped on the one-, two- and three-yard lines.
“If I can end up like Rob Bagg, I’ll be pretty happy,” Ball said.
Bagg and the other members of the Roughriders are often discussed by Michael Ball, Ethan’s father, who is a sportscaster and morning-show host with Harvard Broadcasting. Michael Ball was a receiver with the junior Regina Rams from 1990-93 before going into broadcasting.
“He’s the reason I wear No. 10 — to honour him,” Ethan Ball said.
The Royals return to action Thursday against Campbell (7:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
In RIFL action Monday, it was: ■
Balgonie Greenall Griffins 37, Martin Monarchs 0; Balfour Bears 49, Johnson Wildcats 23; Thom Trojans 27, Sheldon-Williams Spartans 25; and, Notre Dame Hounds 34, Luther Lions 14.
Individual highlights: Johnson’s Sadik Sadik rushed for two TDs and teammate DeShawn LeJour caught nine passes for 129 yards and a TD ... Sheldon got interceptions from Bryden Loucks, Finn Marcotte-Cribbs and Dalton Eberle ... John Campbell led Martin with six tackles.
Olivia Gables had all four of ■
Campbell’s goals in their 4-2 victory over Riffel in Regina High Schools Athletic Association girls soccer action on Monday.
Taylor Markel and Elisa McIntosh scored for Riffel.
Also on Monday, Elenna LaPlante counted two goals as the Luther Lions defeated Martin 3-0, and Amou Madol scored twice as the O’Neill Titans defeated the Winston Knoll Wolverines 5-0.
In another match, two-goal performances by Chloe Langen and Jordann Gonzalez powered the LeBoldus Golden Suns to a 7-1 victory over Thom.