Will Jordon Dizon play on Friday night is the first question that pops out of the mouths of people already discussing the upcoming KIF battle when the Waimea High School Menehune travel to Vidinha to be hosted by the Kaua‘i
Will Jordon Dizon play on Friday night is the first question that pops out of the mouths of people already discussing the upcoming KIF battle when the Waimea High School Menehune travel to Vidinha to be hosted by the Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders.
Dizon, injured early in their game against Kapa‘a last Friday night didn’t reappear on the field in Waimea’s 21 – 6 victory, although spectators watched as Menehune medical personnel including trainer Brandi Hori worked on the runningback during the greater part of the first half.
Waimea athletic director James Kitamura said that Dizon suffered an ankle sprain in the game, and despite already being on his feet and walking, the decision to play Dizon in the Friday night game rests with coach Liko Pereira.
Dizon’s absence on the field brought out step-up play from runningbacks Austin Arthur and Po‘okela Chang-Wo, Arthur picking up 107 of Waimea’s 235-yard rushing game, and Chang-Wo adding another hundred yards.
Dizon, despite a 15-yard showing Friday before his injury, has already massed over 500 yards in two games including their pre-season contests with Woodburn and Hawai‘i Prep, Kitamura said.
Kitamura mused that the key to this week’s game will be the Menehune line, and whether they’ll be able to penetrate to the Kaua‘i QB.
For Kaua‘i, Friday night is a key game as the Raiders will see if they can break a streak, perhaps capitalizing on a less-than-100 percent Jordon Dizon, if he plays at all.
A Red Raider victory would put them in the driver’s seat for the KIF title battle.
Game time is set for 7:35 p.m. with a live radio broadcast on KQNG AM 570 with Joel Pahukula. The contest will also be tape delayed on Channel 6 for Sunday and Wednesday nights starting at 9 p.m. with J Robertson doing the play-by-play.
