It's a good-news, bad-news situation for Cody Kessler and Centennial: Kessler, one of the section's best quarterbacks (and basketball players, for that matter), has a high ankle sprain and possibly a partially torn ligament in his ankle. But x-rays were negative, and Kessler most likely will be back before season's end.

That's the diagnosis after Kessler rolled the ankle on a sideline run against Bakersfield High on Friday night. The prognosis is that Kessler won't be able to play for at least the next two weeks, and possibly as long as four weeks or more if the injury is stubborn. Kessler has started some physical training and rehab at Terrio Fitness.

“It’s a pretty severe sprain,” said Kessler's dad, Don. “There’s no breaks or anything like that. It just takes time. We’re attacking it aggressively and going two times a day to therapy. Two (weeks) would be outstanding; four is probably more realistic.”

Centennial's remaining regular-season schedule looks like this: South, at West, Ridgeview, at North, Frontier.

Kessler has completed 71-of-114 passes for 856 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions on the year, but he's generally accepted as the city's best quarterback. He's also run for 177 yards and four TDs and has been offered scholarships by multiple Division I schools in both football and basketball.

In Kessler's absence, Centennial will turn to junior Mark Ritchie, who was 7-of-12 for 110 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions filling in on Friday night.

My take — this is obviously a blow for the Golden Hawks, though they've got to be relieved it wasn't so serious that Kessler couldn't return at all. That Week 8 game against Ridgeview could be tough without him, but the Week 10 game vs. Frontier and the playoffs are the biggest games left, and it sounds like Cody will be back for those.

That said, I hope everyone involved, including Cody himself, is careful with this. You don't want it to turn into a nagging ailment or a more serious injury that could jeopardize what is a promising career.

Another quick note: Bakersfield visits Liberty on Tuesday night in a huge volleyball tilt, with the winner taking control of a crowded SEYL race and putting themselves in position for a nice seed come playoff time. Last year, the teams split their two games, Liberty won the league title and both bowed out in the late rounds of the playoffs to Clovis West.