In a few ways, Ra'Von Burton isn't about to look at the distant future.

For one, he battled through the pain of a high ankle sprain days before his team's crucial game in a clash of unbeaten teams against Bangor. In fact, it wasn't until the day before the game that Burton realized he was going to be in the lineup for the Roughies.

"(Head) Coach (Tom Falzone) and (trainer) John (Capozzolo) let me practice Thursday and I knew I would be playing," recalled Burton. "Even though I felt pain, I knew I had to play through it. I wanted to go out there and help my team win a big football game."

He certainly did. Burton rushed for a game-high 241 yards and scored a touchdown on a 60-yard gallop to help the Roughies to a 35-14 victory. His game total raised his season total to 758 yards and 10 touchdowns through six games for Catty (6-0).

"It was a touch-and-go situation all week," noted Falzone. "Ra'Von didn't go Monday and stayed home from school and iced all day Tuesday. He (Burton) had treatment Wednesday and we thought he could give it a go Thursday.

"He (Burton) wasn't moving as well as he normally did in practice, so we really didn't know what to expect. But he certainly was a force out there for us. (Burton) is having a special season and he wants to do anything he can to help this team became better."

In spite of being in the spotlight for opposing team's game plans as well as the public, Burton has deflected the limelight to concentrate on the immediate future. Although he is a junior, his name already has circulated among college recruiters, but Burton knows he had time to concentrate on that aspect of his life.

Instead, Burton is more concerned with once-beaten Pen Argyl, which looms as another pivotal opponent for the Roughies Saturday afternoon in the Slate Belt.

"Sure, I want to play football in college, but I can't worry about that now," he said. "I just want to make this team better and focus on whom we have to play next week. Pen Argyl has one loss and they are a physical team.

"They (Pen Argyl) have a good quarterback and backs. We have to keep doing what we have been doing to get to this point to stop them."

Burton is also appreciative to his teammates, mainly due to backfield mate Eric Matz, quarterback Zack Bradley, and receivers Alex Parker and Paryss Marshall. And he won't forget his offensive line.

The Roughies' rash of weapons has bounced some of the focus away from him on the field.

"Zack (Bradley) is living up to the expectations everyone had of him this summer," Burton said. "We all knew he would be a great quarterback. He and his receivers worked out with his dad all summer.

"I know teams will focus on stopping Eric (Matz) and I, but now they have to worry about those guys."

However, Burton has totally shunned any large-range goals.

"In the future, I want to help us go undefeated, win a league championship, district championship and go to states," he stressed. "Those are my concerns right now. We have a good thing going here right now and we won't allow anyone to stop us."

Whatever he and his team accomplishes in the coming weeks, Burton will make the Roughies' present state a fun watch.