WAILUKU - Baldwin High School quarterback Keelan Ewaliko, a two-time Maui News Maui Interscholastic League Offensive Player of the Year, is out for three weeks after a suffering a broken rib in the Bears' 46-0 loss to Saint Louis on Saturday at Aloha Stadium.
Baldwin coach A.J. Roloos said Monday at practice that Ryan Graham, a senior transfer from Kamehameha Maui, will make his second varsity start Saturday against Maui High at War Memorial Stadium.
Ewaliko, who has verbally committed to the University of Hawaii and was a third-team all-state selection by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser last season when he led Baldwin to the Division I state semifinals, came out of the game against the Crusaders early in the second quarter with the rib injury, struggling somewhat to breathe.
Article Photos
Ewaliko
He left the stadium and was evaluated at Pali Momi Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with a displaced fracture of a right rib.
The opinion was confirmed Monday by Dr. Frank Baum, the Ewalikos' family physician.
Ewaliko verified the injury Monday, but asked not to be interviewed.
Fact Box
MIL Football
Division I
W ......... L ............... Pct ........ PF ......... PA
Maui High .............. 1 .......... 0 ........... 1.000 ........ 10 .......... 7
Baldwin ................. 0 .......... 0 ........... .000 ........ 0 .......... 0
DIVISION II
Lahainaluna ........... 1 ........... 0 ............ 1.000 ...... 29 ............ 0
KS Maui ................. 0 ............ 1 ............. .000 ........ 7 .......... 10
King Kekaulike ....... 0 ............ 1 ............. .000 ........ 0 .......... 29
Friday's Result
Maui High 10, Kamehameha Maui 7
Saturday's Results
Lahainaluna 29, King Kekaulike 0
Saint Louis 46, Baldwin 0 (nonleague)
Friday, Aug. 31
Lahainaluna vs. Kamehameha Maui at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 1
Baldwin vs. Maui High at War Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Roloos said that he would prefer Ewaliko heals, rather than try to play through the pain.
"Actually I would rather have him healthy than have an injury that will linger all season long," Roloos said. "Football is a physical sport. . . . Keelan is a tough kid, he will be back."
Graham, a longtime friend of Ewaliko's, was 7-for-17 passing for 43 yards with no interceptions against the Crusaders. He also ran 10 times for minus 27 yards, much of them on sacks.
"Ryan is going to step in, we are going to give him the majority of the reps, let him work with the number ones this week and we will go from there," Roloos said.
Baldwin plays Lahainaluna on Sept. 7, and Kamehameha Maui on Sept. 15. Ewaliko could be back for a game against King Kekaulike on Sept. 21.
"There is a little bit of pressure, but I am just thinking of it as another game," Graham said. "I'm just going to take it one game at a time. I just have to lead these boys."
Graham, listed at 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, was 13-for-42 passing last season at Kamehameha for 197 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. Ewaliko threw for 921 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, and ran for 810 yards and 12 touchdowns on 88 carries, becoming the first player in MIL history to lead the league in passing and rushing in a single season.
"Keelan is a big loss, he has been the leader for three years now," Graham said. "So, having him lost is a big thing, but I guess I will just step in his shoes now and take over the team until he comes back. I'm ready."
Graham has only been at Baldwin for four weeks, but said he has been fully accepted as a member of the team.
"From the first day I walked on, some of the boys accepted me then, and as the days went on they got more close to me, and then this past game, I got a lot of respect for them, so I am a part of this team now," he said.
