Norco RB Nakamoto out 4-6 weeks
Norco High School running back Joshua Nakamoto dislocated his right ankle on the first offensive play of Friday night's 25-20 win over Crenshaw, sidelining the senior 4-6 weeks.
Nakamoto, a 2,386-yard rusher a year ago on Norco's CIF-SS Inland Division championship team, was pushed out of bounds at the end of a 20-yard run where the 6-foot-1, 225-pound power back landed awkwardly, popping the ankle out of place.
"Actually its better to dislocate it than have to deal with ligament damage," Norco coach Todd Gerhart said. "This way we're just waiting for the swelling to go down. Six weeks is worst case."
Junior wing back Richie Lopez was forced to fill in for Nakamoto Friday. Having to replace Lopez with a receiver essentially cut the Norco play book in half, according to Gerhart. Norco's run-first, pass-almost-never offense is heavily reliant upon the counters Lopez runs from the wing back posiiton to offset Nakamoto's smash-mouth style up the middle.
Gerhart eventually returned Lopez to his original position on Friday, inserting Nakamoto's successor, sophomore speedster Joe Smith. Smith promptly rewarded him with an 85-yard touchdown run but fumbled his next touch, enough of a scare in a close game to warrant Gerhart pulling the youngster. However, Smith will start this week when Norco hosts Lawndale Leuzinger, allowing Lopez to resume his wing back duties.