WAILUKU - The one step back, one step forward news continues for the Baldwin High School football team.
The Bears learned Monday that Maui Interscholastic League All-Star linebacker Jordan Hoiem will be out for a third straight week when they play Kamehameha Maui at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Hoiem, who missed Baldwin's first two MIL games with the flu, was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right foot after visiting his doctor Monday because of continuing pain.
Article Photos
Jordan Hoeim (right) talks with Afoa Laga during Baldwin’s practice on Tuesday — Hoeim has a stress fracture in his foot, and Laga has a shoulder injury.
"They said that it could have been a stress fracture that was trying to heal itself, so I went back. They were saying that it kind-of, sort-of healed itself, but it couldn't fully heal itself because I was walking on it," Hoiem said as he watched Tuesday's practice in a walking boot. "It should be a week or two before I come back."
The news on Hoiem came a couple days after quarterback Keelan Ewaliko, a two-time MIL Offensive Player of the Year, was cleared to play this week after missing two games with a broken rib.
Hoiem, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior, has scholarship offers from the University of Hawaii, Utah, Utah State and Nevada-Las Vegas.
Fact Box
MIL Standings
| Division I | |||||
| W | L | Pct | PF | PA | |
| Baldwin | 1 | 1 | .500 | 25 | 37 |
| Maui High | 1 | 1 | .500 | 15 | 32 |
| DIVISION II | |||||
| W | L | Pct | PF | PA | |
| x-Lahainaluna | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 97 | 0 |
| KS Maui | 1 | 2 | .333 | 18 | 54 |
| King Kekaulike | 0 | 2 | .000 | 8 | 40 |
x-clinched first-round championship
Friday's Result
Lahainaluna 32, Baldwin 0
Saturday's Result
Kamehameha Maui 11, King Kekaulike 8
Friday, Sept. 14
Maui High at King Kekaulike, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 15
Baldwin at Kamehameha Maui, 7 p.m.
"I took a week off while I was sick and it still didn't get any better, so I went to the foot specialist, he took an X-ray and they found a stress fracture," he said. "It's hard, but I want to play healthy for the team. I wear the boot for a week and Monday I go back for a check-up and X-ray, tests. If it is good by then, I should be good to play in the King K game."
Baldwin coach A.J. Roloos suggested to Hoiem that he wait until the second round of MIL play to retake the field. The Bears face King Kekaulike next week and then have a bye before starting the second round against Maui High on Oct. 5.
Ewaliko, who has verbally committed to UH, was hurt in a loss to Saint Louis on Aug. 25.
"I'm cleared," Ewaliko said during a break from practice. "No soreness, I haven't been taking too many pain pills, just lots of calcium, drinking a lot of milk, everything. The main thing is that my bones heal up fast. Last week I still had a little bit of soreness, but the doctor said it is just the muscle is still bruised, but as the days go by it should clear up significantly. Right now, no pain whatsoever."
Baldwin is 1-2 overall this season, and 1-1 in the MIL after a 17-game league winning streak was snapped with a 32-0 loss to Lahainaluna on Friday. Ewaliko said the Bears have rededicated themselves to making an eighth straight trip to the state tournament.
"We had a team meeting (Saturday) and we had to put everything on the table, said what needs to be done," Ewaliko said. "So, we are coming out today and you can feel it - we are actually practicing like we should practice. It feels good."
*Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com
