Keli'ikipi could be finished for season
| • | Warriors ineffective against Nevada, 24-14 |
| • | Ferd Lewis: Passing game goes into deep freeze |
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer
RENO, Nev. — The University of Hawai'i football team expects to learn shortly if it will get running back West Keli'ikipi back at all this season.
Athletic department spokesperson Lois Manin said Keli'ikipi will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure tomorrow to gauge the extent of what may be a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered in yesterday's 24-14 loss to Nevada.
Asked about Keli'ikipi's status, head coach June Jones said, "I don't know. (It) is not good right now."
The 6-foot-1, 260-pound Keli'ikipi left the game with about four minutes remaining in the first quarter after bowling over cornerback Randy Landingham on a 24-yard pass play from quarterback Tim Chang that drew "oohs and ahhs" from the Mackay Stadium crowd.
But Keli'ikipi limped off the field after the play and finished the game on crutches with a brace on his left knee.
The loss of Keli'ikipi was a significant one for the Warriors. In addition to his pass catching (two receptions for 30 yards) and running abilities, Keli'ikipi is also the Warriors' best blocking back. The Wolf Pack was able to sack Chang three times and pressure him on more than a half-dozen other occasions.
"I was sorry to see West go out of there, that hurt us a bit," Jones said. "He helps us in the pass protection part of it and he did a nice job early in the game. I think that affects us, obviously."
Jones said there were "no other major" injuries.
• Kicking position to be looked at: The Warriors may evaluate their starting placekicking situation in the wake of Justin Ayat's continuing struggles.
Ayat, second in UH career scoring, missed on both field-goal attempts yesterday from 30 and 48 yards. He made both extra-point attempts.
Coming into the game, he had missed on his past two field goals and four of his previous seven PAT kicks. Ayat is 14 of 21 on field goals and 30 of 38 on extra points this season.
Jones said he will "look at" the kicking situation this week. "I don't know what I'll do but, certainly, we have to make those (kicks), that's for sure."
Both the field goal misses came in a first half where UH was shut out 6-0. "At worst it should have been 6-6," Jones said.
Special teams coordinator Tyson Helton said, "We (special teams) have to do our part and kick it when we get the chance. He (Ayat) wants to make those kicks and he's trying hard to do it. It is something that he just has to work his way out of."
Nolan Miranda, a freshman from Castle High, has yet to kick in a game for UH.
• It has been colder for UH: While the 44 degrees at kickoff was cold enough to prompt the Warriors to break out their parkas and some heaters, it was not the coldest Western Athletic Conference game UH has played in.
The Warriors' 2000 game at Texas Christian was 34 degrees at kickoff and also dropped with wind chill. In 1994, it was 40 degrees at Utah.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
