By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 31, 2009
OK, campers, as promised, a real trick or treat, as SportsBlog Nation begins its own 12-team all-inclusive football SportsBlog Championship Series on Halloween night. First-round games:
Game 1 -- No. 12 Singapore Falcons at No. 5 Zama American.
Game 2 -- No. 9 John F. Kennedy at No. 8 Yokota.
Game 3 -- No. 10 Robert D. Edgren at No. 7 Father Duenas Memorial.
Game 4 -- No. 11 Simon Sanchez at No. 6 Guam High.
And awayyyyyyyyy we go:
Game 1 -- Danny Albanese returns opening kick for touchdown, runs for two more and catches a TD pass as Singapore's diversity matches Zama's Wing-T score for score in the first half. Michael Spencer finds a seam on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 46-yard TD run, Mike Jorgenson adds a 52-yard scoring pass to Matt Cole and Cory Peckins picks off two passes to halt two late Falcons drives. Trojans 40, Falcons 34.
Game 2 -- Early on, the Islanders' Jacob Blas and Moses Manibusan feast on the Panthers' defense, Blas scoring twice and Manibusan once as JFK pulls ahead 22-12 at halftime. Yokota's three-pronged ground attack of DeEric Harvin, Gerald McCloud and freshman QB Stanley Speed rallies with fury. but it takes a late Ross Matsumoto interception in the closing seconds to preserve a 41-38 Panthers win.
Game 3 -- An unlikely passing duel between the Eagles' Zach Davis and the Friars' Will Williams. Davis gets the better of it, tossing four touchdown passes to Matt Linder. Williams answers back with a pair of TD tosses to Anthony Aguon and a quarterback-sneak score of his own. Ja'Maal Dennis breaks one for 78 yards in the closing minutes to seal Edgren's 35-23 upset of the Friars.
Game 4 -- Perhaps the finest hour for the Panthers' "Three Caballeros." Quarterback Aaron Cosey finds Devon Jacobs for two touchdown passes, while Jason Brunson runs for a career-high 186 yards and three scores. Raul Bryand paces a ferocious defense that forces five turnovers and two sacks. The Sharks simply have no answers in the biggest blowout of the first round, Panthers 42, Simon Sanchez 17.
Next round is next Saturday. Game 5--Zama American at Kadena. Game 6--Yokota at American School In Japan. Game 7--Robert D. Edgren at George Washington. Game 8--Guam High at Daegu American.
Agree with the results of the first round? Disagree? Shout it out! Be true to your school, but remember: You've entered THE "No-Hate Zone." :)
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 31, 2009
To correct a bit of history that I kept getting wrong ...
Zama American's football team next Saturday will try to become the first Trojans boys sports team to win a Far East team title of any kind since the 1978-79 Zama wrestling team. A search of the archive revealed this; up until now, I'd thought it was the 1962-63 boys basketball team.
Daegu American is attempting to erase a long title drought of its own. Not since the 1989-90 Warriors basketball team has Daegu won a Far East boys team title.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 30, 2009
UPDATED AT 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31:
-- Daegu American 30, Osan American 28, OT: Antoine "Flash" Feagin three TD runs, three two-point runs, including the game-winners. Warriors coach Ken Walter called it the greatest game he's ever seen. Certainly the greatest game in DODEA Korea league's seven-season history.
-- Zama American 21, Nile C. Kinnick 14: Trojans' running game continues to struggle, but Mike Jorgenson's QB play, Ashton Norwood's takeaways enough to give Zama its first regular-season league title in school history.
-- American School In Japan 39, Yokota 6: The bad news for the rest of Japan is, QB Hayden Jardine ain't going anywhere. ASIJ captures first outright Kanto Plain title since 1983; Yokota's run of 10 straight Kanto and DODEA Japan titles ended at ASIJ's, Zama's hands.
-- George Washington 22, John F. Kennedy 6: Not as dominating as Santos & Santos usually are, only the second time Geckos have been scored on this season. Still, more than ready to challenge for the Bamboo Bowl title next Friday.
-- Father Duenas Memorial 20, Guam High 12: Panthers' bid for school-first Bamboo Bowl berth and Interscholastic Football League title comes to an end; DODEA Far East Class AA playoffs next.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 29, 2009
Big and physical vs. small and fleet. Those contrasting styles will line up across the line of scrimmage at 6 p.m. Friday as Osan American battles Daegu American with host rights to the Far East Class A title game on the line. Click here to preview the coming weekend in Pacific high school football.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 29, 2009
Hearty congratulations bestowed by SportsBlog Nation as the parade of league champions marches on in late October:
-- A "breakout" match is how coach Al Garrido described Nile C. Kinnick setter Marina Nakayama's night Wednesday. She recorded 23 set assists to boost the Red Devils past Christian Academy In Japan in straight sets. Kinnick is 22-0 overall, 11-0 in league, but more importantly captured its first Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools league title in school history. Shannon Jackson and Mary Niemeyer racked up double-figure spike-kill totals and Jackson, Emily Stith and Camille Kawamoto enjoyed what Garrido called a "block party" at the net.
-- On Okinawa, Chasity Cordova of Kadena made it three straight Okinawa Activities Council district cross-country titles, running the 3.1-mile Jack's Place course at Kadena in 20 minutes, 47 seconds, 27 ticks better than her rival Jessica Powell of Kubasaki. Cordova's junior teammate Tomas Sanchez outran Kadena's Jacob Bishop to the tape for his first OAC title.
-- On the tennis courts, Kadena's Kyle Sprow made it 4-for-4 in OAC district singles titles, while senior teammate Elissa Mason made it two straight district crowns. Sprow and Mason each beat teammates and doubles partners Elliot Mason and Christin Gentz for the titles.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 28, 2009
UPDATED at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28 and 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29.
Former Seoul American girls volleyball middle blocker Gabriella Matautia and her Moanalua volleyball team are headed to the Hawaii state playoffs. Photograph of her can be found here, although I'm sure she'd have wanted it to be associated with a story about her team winning.
Terrone Sheffey, a former basketball standout at Kadena, left Okinawa for the States for his senior year of high school along with Jamil Barney, and is now at Belmont Abbey College, a Division II school in North Carolina. As Kadena coach Robert Bliss said, "If only Barney and Sheffey had stayed for their senior seasons. Wow. Such is life."
Also, click here to see what former Nile C. Kinnick soccer player Cynthia Evans is up to. On the roster at Penn State-Harrisburg, of the Division III North Eastern Athletic Conference. That league includes University of Dallas, where former Kinnick power forward Travis Ekmark plays basketball.
Other former Kinnick star soccer players and cross-country runners include:
-- Chelsea Keolanui-Wilson, now of Chaminade in Hawaii.
-- Nadine Mulvany, two-time Far East cross-country champion now of Southwestern (Calif.) College.
-- David Krievs, Pasadena (Calif.) City College, where he's rooming with his older brother Adam, Stripes' male Athlete of the Year 2004-05, and playing soccer alongside former Kubasaki teammate Rimar West.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 28, 2009
Two years ago, she could have easily given up on tennis. Her father handed her a tennis racquet and gave her the toughest of introductions to the sport. But one day, something clicked and she fell in love with the game. And Yokota Panthers freshman singles star Erika Youngdahl has the record to prove it, and is taking dead aim at a berth in the Far East Tournament finals next month. Click here to read her story.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 26, 2009
Since Ornauer messed up and prematurely crowned a Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools football champion, it's only fair that we examine the possibilities of winning the league title for American School In Japan (4-1) and Zama American and Yokota (each 3-2).
Although in 1995 the KPASSP constitution was changed to include a point-differential tiebreaker to prevent ties for the league title from happening, that provision appears to no longer be in the league constitution. I do not know when that changed. The point being while there's nothing in the constitution to address point differentials, nothing in the constitution specifically addresses changing back to the way things were.
Therefore for the purposes of this blog post, we'll do it both ways, starting with win-loss record only, followed by head-to-head record and point differential.
Win-loss record only
American School In Japan
Can clinch the KPASSP title outright with a victory Friday at Yokota. Would slip into a three-way tie with Zama and Yokota with a loss at Yokota. Would slip into a two-way tie for first place with Yokota with a Yokota win and a Zama loss.
Zama American
Can't win the league title outright. Can move into a three-way tie for first place by winning at Kinnick and with a Yokota win over ASIJ at Yokota. Falls out of the possibility of a tie with a loss at Kinnick no matter the outcome of ASIJ-Yokota.
Yokota
Can't win the league title outright. Can move into a two-way tie with ASIJ by beating ASIJ and with a Zama loss at Kinnick. Can move into a three-way tie with ASIJ and Zama by beating ASIJ and with a Zama win at Kinnick.
Head-to-head, point differential
American School In Japan
Forfeited home game with Zama; official score 2-0 Zama. Beat Zama last Friday 28-12. Beat Yokota 48-8. Has yet to play at Yokota on Friday. Currently holds a +54 point differential in games involving Yokota and Zama. Needs a win over Yokota or a loss by 51 points or less to seal the league title.
Zama American
Won road game at ASIJ by forfeit; official score 2-0. Lost to ASIJ at home 28-12. Lost at Yokota 28-12, beat Yokota at home 33-6. Finished with -3 point differential in games involving ASIJ and Yokota.
Yokota
Beat Zama 28-12 at home, lost at Zama 33-6. Lost at ASIJ 48-8. Currently holds a -51 point differential. Would need to beat ASIJ by 53 or more points to overtake ASIJ; in that scenario, Yokota would finish with a +2 point edge, while Zama would finish second with +1.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 25, 2009
Congratulations to Sam Krauth of American School In Japan and Madeline Strandemo of Hong Kong International for their victories in the boys and girls 3.1-mile individual races in the Asia-Pacific Invitational Cross-Country Meet on Friday at Asan Memorial Park on Guam. Krauth ran the course in 17 minutes, 34.4 seconds. Last year's winner, Kelly Langley of St. Mary's International, was second. Strandemo won in 20:39.3; runner-up Bessie Noll of ASIJ trailed by 31.4 seconds.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 25, 2009
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as we reach the regular season's final weekend with some very important decisions yet to be made:
-- Isn't Week 10.0 going to be fun?
-- Most league championships and playoff spots have already been determined, save two.
-- Or one each.
-- The DODEA Japan title is still up for grabs, with Zama American needing a win at Nile C. Kinnick on Friday to grab the bag of marbles which contain the words: "First DODEA Japan title in school history." Should it be a Red Devil of a victory, then Yokota, which has won the last 10 titles, would make it 11.
-- And who is going to host the "Trojan Horses" in the Class A title game Nov. 7? Still up in the air. Daegu American 1, Osan American 1, with Game 3 slated for Camp Walker's Kelly Field. Green flag waves at 6 p.m. Friday for the last few laps of that race.
-- Speaking of Daegu and Osan, what a wild one we saw on Saturday, seesawing as Daegu grabbed the early lead, Osan tied it, then fell behind 14-6 before scoring 23 unanswered, then the Warriors rallied madly to get within two points. Small consolation that Antoine Feagin and the Warriors were a two-point conversion short of sending it to bonus football, else we might still be playing.
-- With its regular running backs hurt, Osan coach Mike Miano borrowed a page from last year's team, giving big Michael Gilliam a more featured-back role. The result: Gilliam scored two touchdowns while Jake Mattison threw for two others to Dominique Williams. That's the offensive balance Miano and the Cougars needed.
-- Nice late blooming by the Cougars, who didn't get their equipment back from reconditioning in the States until late August.
-- Any way I can predict Friday's rubber game as "too close to call?"
-- Daegu showed some good offensive balance also, getting a pair of touchdown runs by Feagin, another by Josh Gosserand and a 60-yard Trey Griffin-to-David Martinez to get within 28-26 with 1:18 left. But too many penalties got in the way, more than 100 yards' worth. "Pretty frustrating," coach Ken Walter said. Understandable.
-- How about "the mother of all close games?"
-- Speaking of balanced attacks, American School In Japan's offense continues to fire on all cylinders. Try 172 rushing yards and 175 passing yards. It doesn't get more balanced than that.
-- Sophomore Hayden Jardine to his senior brother Tom is the "it" passing combination in the Pacific at the moment. Six catches for 107 yards and three TDs for Tom. 11-for-19, 175 yards and four TDs for Hayden.
-- That's in addition to Alex Busam, who scored once each on the ground and in the air.
-- Tom and Hayden. Pretty political combination. (sorry, Thomas, couldn't resist) :).
-- Zama's offense played much better Friday than it did the previous week up at Misawa Air Base. Michael spencer went up over 100 yards, Mike Jorgenson came out slinging, going 9-for-18 for 84 yards and both Trojans touchdowns and Cory Peckins had two takeaways.
-- But the Trojans' defense had trouble solving the Mustangs, particularly Takeshi Kennedy on those nifty fullback trap plays.
-- Is it just me, or are more teams trying to emulate the service academies by running the Wing-T?
-- And running it well, I might add.
-- One team running a hybrid spread attack, Yokota, found its sea legs again after losing an uncharacteristic three straight games, its longest such skid in 11 seasons. Gerald McCloud ran 20 times for 153 yards and a touchdown, DeEric Harvin returned a batted pitch 40 yards for a score and Ross Matsumoto and Wesly Cannonier halted two Robert D. Edgren drives into the red zone with interceptions.
-- Speaking of Panthers, Kadena made it 14 straight wins over Kubasaki dating back to 2006, as Shariff Coleman and Thomas McDonald each ran for two touchdowns. The Panthers outscored the Dragons 167-16 this season.
-- On to the Far East Class AA playoffs for Kadena, which battles Yokota on Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at Kubasaki's Mike Petty Stadium.
-- Just the first time that teams that faced each other during the regular season will again do battle in the Far East playoffs.
-- And the Guam High variety of Panther not only resoundingly reached the next round of the Interscholastic Football League playoffs by pounding Southern 48-6 ... Guam High earned a school-best 15 All-Island selections, including eight first-team picks. Guam High's "Three Caballeros," Aaron Cosey, Jason Brunson and Devon Jacobs, headlined that party.
-- That brings Father Duenas Memorial to the plate for Guam High's fourth IFL semifinal appearance. Kickoff at 3 p.m. at Panthers Field.
-- Isn't Week 10.0 going to be fun?
-- Student-photographer enterprise moment of the week: Nick Jorgenson earlier last week won the beginning photography challenge at the DODEA Pacific Far East Journalism Conference at Tokyo's New Sanno Hotel. On Friday, he became the fifth Zama American student since 2007 to have a photo published by Stripes. Ladies in Black 1.0 (Annie Young), 2.0 (Anastasia Rodgers) and 3.0 (Reina Staley) were at the field photographing for Zama American's yearbook group, when Jorgenson appeared out of nowhere, camera in hand and competing with LIB 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 to see who'd get published. And Jorgenson came up with a winner, which published on Page 41 of Sunday's editions. Pick up a copy. Impressive stuff.
-- Cuisine of the week: Glenn Shimabukuro again, for his Shima Chicken Bowl special at Yokota's Bonk Field. Marinated chicken over rice, which coach Tim Pujol said drew "rave reviews." Yokota principal Darrell Mood was "first in line," Pujol said, at the Shima Shack.
-- Isn't Week 10.0 going to be fun?
-- Where Ornauer will be Friday: Berkey By the Bay, where hopefully by that time Tropical Storm Lupit will be a distant memory. Zama American at Nile C. Kinnick, 7 p.m. kickoff on the turf field.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 25, 2009
We have a name for our all-inclusive 12-team Pacific high school football playoff. Call it the SCS, or SportsBlog Championship Series. Sort of sounds like BCS, only it works a whole lot better.
And our schedule begins with the first round of games on Halloween, with the winners to meet one of the top four seeds, each of which earned a first-round bye.
First round
Game 1 -- No. 12 Singapore Falcons at No. 5 Zama American.
Game 2 -- No. 9 John F. Kennedy at No. 8 Yokota.
Game 3 -- No. 10 Robert D. Edgren at No. 7 Father Duenas Memorial.
Game 4 -- No. 11 Simon Sanchez at No. 6 Guam High.
Quarterfinals will be played on Nov. 7.
So, who's gonna win? Shout it out! Be true to your school! And remember, you've entered THE "No-Hate Zone." :)
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 24, 2009
So ... what if American School In Japan, George Washington and other non-DODEA teams could be included in one all-inclusive Pacific high school football playoff?
It can't happen in reality, since the current DODEA Pacific football playoff structure doesn't permit it. Although it would be kind of nice to see how, say, a George Washington might make out against Kadena, or an American School In Japan against Daegu American, etc.
So, we're going to try that right here, right now over the next three weeks. A 12-team bracket, four league champions getting a first-round bye and the other eight seeded 5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, etc.
In fact, the virtual playoffs have already begun -- by virtue of its 28-12 win at Zama American on Friday, American School In Japan earns a first-round bye in our playoff bracket for winning the Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools title.
So ... heeeeeeeeeeeeere we go:
First round
Game 1 -- No. 12 Singapore Falcons at No. 5 Zama American.
Game 2 -- No. 9 John F. Kennedy at No. 8 Yokota.
Game 3 -- No. 10 Robert D. Edgren at No. 7 Father Duenas Memorial.
Game 4 -- No. 11 Simon Sanchez at No. 6 Guam High.
Quarterfinals
Game 5 -- Game 1 winner at No. 1 Kadena.
Game 6 -- Game 2 winner at No. 3 American School In Japan.
Game 7 -- Game 3 winner at No. 2 George Washington.
Game 8 -- Game 4 winner at No. 4 Daegu American.
So, what does SportsBlog Nation think? Should there be such a playoff? Who do you think would win? Sound off! Be true to your school. And remember, you've entered THE "No-Hate Zone." :)
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 24, 2009
UPDATED at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24:
-- American School In Japan 28, Zama American 12: First outright Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools title for Mustangs since 1983. Again, ASIJ's offense, powered by brother-brother quarterback Hayden and receiver Tom Jardine, fired on all cylinders and the Mustangs' defense had the answers for Zama's "Trojan Horses."
-- Yokota 26, Robert D. Edgren 7: Panthers right the ship after longest losing skid since 1998.
-- Kadena 47, Kubasaki 6: Shariff Coleman shines again. Panthers enter Class AA playoffs on 14-game winning streak over Dragons dating back to 2006 season.
-- Father Duenas Memorial 49, Okkodo 13: Friars dispatch Bulldogs easily, but now comes a date with No. 2-seeded Guam High.
-- Guam High 48, Southern 6: Three TDs each by Aaron Cosey and Jason Brunson. Next up: the Friars.
-- John F. Kennedy 19, Simon Sanchez 17: Close call for Islanders. Their reward? A Friday night date with top-seeded Geckos.
-- Osan American 28, Daegu American 26: Late-blooming Cougars making run for Class A title game host rights. Two TDs each by Jake Mattison, Michael Gilliam.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 23, 2009
No expectations, she says, did she harbour entering Thursday's Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools tennis tournament at Shirako Tennis Complex. Well, not only did she surpass her goals of leaving it all on the court and perhaps reaching the semifinals, she won the whole shooting match. Erika Youngdahl, a freshman, not only became the first Yokota singles title wiinner -- she just might be the first DODDS-Japan player ever to do so.
Completely expected were Kyle Sprow and Elliot Mason, Kadena seniors each, repeating their Okinawa Activities Council doubles titles, while Elissa Mason and Christin Gentz, Kadena senior and junior, won the girls doubles. Sprow and Elliot Mason are the defending Far East tournament champions and Sprow and Elissa Mason will each defend their Far East singles titles starting Nov. 9 at Kadena's Risner Tennis Complex.
And congratulations to the Kubasaki Dragons girls volleyball team, which won the annual best-of-five OAC series 3-2, rallying from two sets down to storm past Kadena at the Dragons' Den.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 21, 2009
Looks as if the Kadena Panthers boys cross-country team may be peaking at the right time. Tomas Sanchez and Jacob Bishop finished 1-2 in the final Okinawa Activities Council regular-season meet of the season Wednesday at Camp Foster's Kishaba Housing Area's 3.1-mile course.
But it was their times that impressed -- Sanchez ran the course in 16 minutes, 40 seconds, three seconds ahead of Bishop and four seconds ahead of the region's prior best time, 16:47 by Thomas Kim of Seoul American.
Meanwhile, almost poetically, on the girls side, two-time district champion and Far East runner-up Chasity Cordova of Kadena and Jessica Powell of Kubasaki finished in what's believed to be the first dead heat in league history -- 20 minutes, 8 seconds as they hit the tape together.
And Kadena had three runners named Cordova in the top 10, including sophomore Mia and sixth-grader Alicia. Too bad the Cordovas aren't staying; they leave this coming summer, else there might be a Cordova running dynasty at Kadena.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 21, 2009
So many Far East activities, academic, career-based and athletic, for a DODEA Pacific student to choose from can also mean making difficult choices about which ones to do. Click here to see the opportunites students have, and how having so many to choose can leave students torn and undecided.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 21, 2009
For the third year in the annual DODEA Pacific Far East Journalism Conference, a handful of student-journalists got a chance to see how the other half lives, donning the mantle of beat reporters and photographers, boarding a bus from the New Sanno Hotel for Capps Gym at Yokota Air Base, an hour west.
Their mission -- cover a high school volleyball match, American School In Japan at Yokota. Watch the match's ebb and flow, keep their own statistics, interview coaches and players after the match, then head to the school's information center and science pod to find a computer, process photos and write stories for a real, daily deadline.
They simulated what guys like my photo associate, Gary Cashman, and myself go through on a daily basis. And for the third straight year, they all came through. Hard work it was, for they're not used to daily deadlines. But good work and a good time.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 20, 2009
The Top Ten
The Top Ten teams in the Stars and Stripes' 2009 Far East high school football ratings, with records through Oct. 17, points and last week's rating, as compiled by Dave Ornauer of Stars and Stripes sports. Ratings are based on teams' win-loss records, quality of wins, strength of roster, schedule and leagues, point differential and team and individual statistics. Maximum rating is 500 points:
Record Pts Pvs
1. Kadena, Okinawa 5-0 468 1
2. George Washington, Guam 6-0 460 2
3. Zama American, Japan 5-1 452 3
(tie) American School In Japan 5-2 452 4
5. Daegu American, South Korea 5-0 448 5
6. Guam High 5-1 444 6
7. Father Duenas Memorial, Guam 4-2 428 8
8. Yokota, Japan 5-3 404 7
9. John F. Kennedy, Guam 3-3 372 9
10. Robert D. Edgren, Japan 3-4 364 10
Week 8 grid honors
Kubasaki—A.J. Watson 172 yards total offense, 4 touchdowns (89 yards, 3 touchdowns, 11 carries; 4-for-9, 83 yards, 1 touchdown). Ladarius Ball 122 yards, 1 touchdown, 12 carries.
Robert D. Edgren—Zach Davis 111 yards total offense, 1 touchdown (11-for-20, 110 yards; 1 yard, 1 touchdown, 3 carries.
Zama American-Michael Spencer 56 yards, 1 touchdown, 18 carries; 1 fumble recovery.
American School In Japan—Alex Busam 210 all-purpose yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception (96-yard interception-return touchdown; 94 yards, 1 touchdown, 8 carries). Hayden Jardine 7-for-10, 134 yards, 2 touchdowns. Chris Kleindl 50 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 catches; 1 interception. Thomas Jardine 160 all-purpose yards (58 yards, 3 catches; 102 yards, 2 returns). Ryan Christianson 74 all-purpose yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions (35 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 carries; 39 yards, 3 returns).
Nile C. Kinnick—Elijah Gamble 192 all-purpose yards, 1 touchdown (140 yards, 1 touchdown, 26 carries; 50 yards, 2 returns; 2 yards, 1 catch).
Kadena—Shariff Coleman 168 all-purpose yards, 2 touchdowns (122 yards, 2 touchdowns, 19 carries; 46 yards, 2 returns). Thomas McDonald 132 all-purpose yards, 2 touchdowns (50-yard touchdown catch; 37 yards, 1 touchdown, 6 carries; 35 yards, 2 returns). Stanley Schrock 115 yards total offense, 2 touchdowns (65 yards, 1 touchdown, 8 carries; 1-for-3, 50 yards, 1 touchdown).
Guam High—Jason Brunson 113 yards, 2 touchdowns, 14 carries. Aaron Cosey 16-for-27, 147 yards.
Week 9 lookahead
Friday
Japan
American School In Japan at Zama American, 7 p.m.—The Trojans who clotheslined Yokota 33-6 three weeks ago win this game easily. The Trojans who barely escaped Misawa last Friday with a 12-7 win over Robert D. Edgren? They’d find the Mustangs, who are firing on all cylinders, too much to handle. … Mustangs 24, Trojans 23.
Robert D. Edgren at Yokota, 7 p.m.—Prior to Friday’s Zama at Edgren squeaker, the Panthers might have seen this as a sure end to their uncharacteristic three-game skid. The Eagles will make ’em earn it. … Panthers 17, Eagles 10.
Guam
Okkodo vs. Father Duenas Memorial at George Washington High School, Mangilao, 7 p.m.—Friars will have to take the field to win this one, unlike their forfeit win over the Bulldogs last week. Friars tune up for semifinal battle against higher lights; Bulldogs tune up for the future. … Friars 20, Bulldogs 6.
Okinawa
Kadena at Kubasaki, 7 p.m.—Host Dragons play for homecoming pride; Panthers look to extend shutout streak against the Dragons to 19 quarters. They’ve outscored Kubasaki 120-0 since falling behind 10-0 in the Sept. 4 season opener. … Panthers 28, Dragons 12.
Saturday
South Korea
Daegu American at Osan American, 2 p.m.—Warriors again stand at the cusp of history, completing their first unbeaten regular season and earning second Class A title-game host rights in three years. But the Cougars, who’ve discovered a passing game, will make them earn it. … Warriors 19, Cougars 11.
Guam
Southern at Guam High, 10 a.m.—Another team that brings offensive balance to the table, the Panthers won’t make the same mistake of taking the Dolphins too lightly as they did in their final regular-season game. … Panthers 22, Dolphins 6.
Simon Sanchez at John F. Kennedy, 3 p.m.—Islanders closed the regular season on a down note, with two straight losses, but will right the ship in time to dethrone the defending champions. … Islanders 17, Sharks 14.
Last week-7-0, 1.000.
Season-31-11, .738.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 19, 2009
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as we reach the penultimate week of the Pacific high school football regular season and hurtle toward two critical weekend matchups:
-- They didn't win, but Robert D. Edgren certainly gave Zama American cause to worry -- as in finding ways to shut down an offense that had been averaging 427 yards and 29 points per game. Michael Spencer was held to a season-low 56 yards and Zama to 112 yards.
-- That said, the Trojans did come away with a 12-7 victory, and in so doing punched their ticket to the Far East Class A title game on Nov. 9. First time for Zama to be in the final of a Far East boys tournament in any sport in ... well, let's say the last time the Trojans won a boys team title was 1963 boys basketball.
-- Site of Class A final to be determined, Osan or Daegu American. More on them later.
-- No question, the turning point of Friday's game at Eagles Field on Misawa Air Base came midway through the third quarter. Zama gave Edgren the ball at the Trojans' 1-yard line after a bad snap caused a 20-yard loss. Zach Davis sneaked over to give the Eagles a 7-6 lead. But Ryan Blackstock returned the ensuing kick 52 yards and Zama's offense roared to life, with Ashton Norwood skirting end 30 yards for the game-winning score.
-- Small consolation that Edgren ended the game half a yard short of victory, when Davis hit Matt Delapaz just shy of the goal from the Zama 10 in the closing seconds. Delapaz appeared to cradle the ball in his hands as his knees and elbows hit just short of the goal line, before he rolled into the end zone. By National Federation of State High School Association rules, whether downed by contact or otherwise, he and the ball were down where his knees and elbows hit. The right call on a night when calls by the officials were called into question -- repeatedly, articulately and wrathfully -- by coaches on both sidelines.
-- So, just how did Edgren, which lost 40-24 at Zama on Aug. 28, shut down the Trojans' vaunted Wing-T? From my observer's view, the Eagles' linebackers cut off the lanes through which Spencer had been running for big yards, and the ends, outside linebackers and cornerbacks did outside contain like they invented it.
-- Also, Zama's offensive line didn't do the things it had in its seminal 33-6 home win over Yokota two weeks earlier.
-- Should that give Trojans nation cause to worry about Friday's showdown for Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools bragging rights when American School In Japan comes calling?
-- Absolutely. Positively.
-- The biggest beatdown of the weekend came at Mustang Valley, where ASIJ absolutely clotheslined Nile C. Kinnick 53-15, in a game that went running clock 1 1/2 minutes into the second half. And ASIJ STILL scored twice more.
-- ASIJ touched the ball 34 times, 26 on offense, 8 on special teams and defense and racked up 620 yards. That's 18 yards per touch. And they showed great balance, scoring equally in the air and on the ground.
-- Once more, give Kinnick's mighty mite running back Elijah Gamble the James Brown Award for the hardest working man in the Pacific. 192 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. 140 yards on 26 carries.
-- For a fullback, Red Devils backup quarterback Taylor Myers looked pretty good under center. His quarterback sneak only expected to net a yard or so from the ASIJ 44 ... but he rumbled all the way to the end zone.
-- Having outscored Yokota and Kinnick 101-23 the last two weeks, can there be any doubt that ASIJ is playing the best ball in Japan at the moment? How about sending the Mustangs to Okinawa for the Far East playoffs?
-- "Not so fast, my friend," ESPN College GameDay's Lee Corso might say in reply, comfortable in the knowledge that Kadena did something that ASIJ -- and no team in the last 10 years -- didn't do to Yokota ... shut out the Panthers.
-- Kadena struggled in the first half, didn't score until 8:21 remained before halftime, but the offense, held to 105 first-half yards, got untracked in the second half, with Shariff Coleman rolling up 122 yards and two scores on 19 carries. The offense finished with 332 yards on 35 plays.
-- As for Yokota, not only have the Panthers lost three straight for the first time in 11 years, not only did they suffer their first shutout and home loss since Nov. 6, 1999 ... Yokota's last two games have finished with the Panthers on the business end of running clocks.
-- Each of the teams stepped out of character. Kadena showed spread in the first half, which it hadn't had to all season. Yokota went spread most of the game and out of necessity -- the Panthers' starting tight ends have transferred, leaving coach Tim Pujol with no understudies. He even went with a sophomore, Stanley Speed, at quarterback in place of incumbent DeEric Harvin, who moved to slot back in the spread offense.
-- Speaking of teams that struggled, Aaron Cosey (16-for-27, 147 yards), Jason Brunson (113 yards, 2 touchdowns, 14 carries) and Guam High learned, in its playoff preview with Southern, that the Dolphins, despite an 0-6 record, have nothing to lose by coming out and shocking the world. "We took that team too lightly," coach Billy Henry said.
-- Nice performance by A.J. Watson (172 yards total offense, four touchdowns) as Kubasaki got its first win of the season, topping Ryukyu University 35-13 in the first game between Kubasaki and the Stingrays since the 2003 season.
-- Antoine "Flash" Feagin hurting? No problem for unbeaten Daegu American, which pushed its record to 5-0 -- best in school history to this point -- and wrapped up its school-first season-series sweep of Seoul American, with a 12-6 victory at Falcon Field on Friday. David Martinez's 48-yard return capped the scoring for a Daegu team that got plenty of help from the likes of Josh Gosserand (48 yards, touchdown run) and Anthony Lampman (10 tackles).
-- It's all or nothing for Osan on Saturday, when they host Daegu. Kickoff 2 p.m. Cougars win, the best-of-three series to determine who'll host Zama in the Class A final goes to a third game on Oct. 30 at Daegu, 6 p.m. kickoff. Win by Daegu and the Warriors host the title game for the second time in three years.
-- Same thing Friday at Zama. All or nothing. Whichever team wins, ASIJ or Zama, will make history. ASIJ hasn't won an outright Kanto Plain title since 1983. Zama has never won one outright, only sharing the distinction with ASIJ in 1994.
-- Boy, I tell you. It's been nearly a decade since I've covered three high school football games in a 27-hour span. Two of them nearly 400 miles apart. The body doesn't react too well at 52.
-- Can somebody do something about the mosquito population around football fields? Particularly at Eagles Field during junior varsity games when the temperature hasn't yet reached the mid-50s? That's when the skeeters usually turn in for the night. I mean, I was looking for the guy who sold the back scratchers.
-- Funniest moment of the weekend -- Kinnick at ASIJ, Mustangs with the ball on fourth down at their 45. ASIJ punts the ball into Kinnick territory, Mustangs cover man Tom Jardine runs downfield, then stops at Kinnick's 28 ... where the ball smacked Jardine right on the coconut on the fly. That's using your head, pal! *grin*
-- Best cuisine of the weekend -- Glenn Shimabukuro's gumbo rice. Equal parts N'Awlans, spice and rice, and Hawai'i, with the slices of Portuguese sausage. Only at the Shima Shack on the south end of Yokota's Bonk Field, where you'll crave all things Shima all the time. The Shima Cake and Shima Rice remain "to-die-for" items as well.
-- Off the gridiron, congratulations to Sam Krauth of ASIJ. The senior negotiated the Tama Hills Recreation Center 2.9-mile boys course in 15 minutes, 7 seconds, a school and personal best. Isabelle Ballet of International School of the Sacred Heart, take a bow as the girls champion. How about Kadena girls volleyball sweeping Kubasaki -- AT Kubasaki -- in three sets for the first time since 2003? And Kinnick's girls volleyball continues its torrid pace, winning twice last week to improve to 19-0. Seoul American girls volleyball avenged its early-season defeat at Daegu, sweeping the Warriors in three sets at Falcon Gym. But Guam High fell short in its bid for a school-first Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam tournament title, losing in two sets to four-time champion George Washington.
127 days.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 19, 2009
Campers, we're bleeding back over into hate territory again with some of the comments in Pacific football Week 8.0 and 8.1 threads. The comments do pass the libel and vulgarity tests, but they border on failing the hate test with me. Remember what we're here to discuss. Stay on topic and check the personal comments at the door, please. I've already banned two people this month and pulled a ton of comments. Keep it lively, but keep it real.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 17, 2009
-- Kadena 35, Yokota 0: Much closer than the score indicated; Kadena didn't score until 8:21 remained until halftime. Kadena gets the edge in preview of Nov. 9 Class AA semifinal on Okinawa. First three-game losing streak for Yokota since 1998. First shutout loss and regular-season home loss for Yokota since Nov. 6, 1999, 16-0 vs. Iwakuni.
-- American School In Japan 53, Nile C. Kinnick 15: Happy homecoming. Mustangs firing on all cylinders heading into Kanto showdown at Zama. Trojans will have their hands full.
-- George Washington 48, John F. Kennedy 0; Guam High 27, Southern 0: Top two island playoff close regular season in high style.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 16, 2009
-- Zama American 12, Robert D. Edgren 7: Not the dominating performances of games past, but a W nonetheless. Season lows for Zama in yards and points. Eagles outgained Trojans 201-112 but turned the ball over four times (to none for Zama), had the ball in Trojans territory five other times besides their touchdown, turned the ball over on downs three times, fumbled once and threw an interception. Small consolation for Edgren that they came within a half-yard on Matt Delapaz's reception near/at the goal line with 28.9 seconds left (I saw knees and hands down with the ball short of the goal line).
-- Daegu American 12, Seoul American 6: First title for Warriors with league under auspices of DODEA Korea; 1993 Warriors won the old Korea Senior Youth League title. School-first season-series sweep 3-0 by Daegu over the Falcons. Rainy, lightningy and thundery.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 15, 2009
Question: When was the last time Zama American's football team played for as high a stakes as are on the table Friday at Robert D. Edgren? Answer: Never. This is as big a game in Trojans football lore as there's ever been. With a win, Zama inches a step closer to its first DODEA Japan title and qualifies for the Far East Class A title game next month. It's no smaller a game for Edgren, though; the three-time defending Class A champion Eagles aim to soar into their fifth straight title game.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 14, 2009
The opposing team didn't show. Even the referees didn't show. Tuesday's Okinawa Christian International at Kadena girls volleyball match ended up being a scrimmage between the Panthers' varsity and jayvee squads.
With coach Greg Rosenberger as the floor official. And -- you guessed it -- your intrepid reporter in the tower.
Officiating is something I first attempted as a linesman in the fifth- and sixth-place match of the 1990 Far East Girls Volleyball Tournament, when the scheduled linesman didn't show and USA Volleyball Pacific Metro Commissioner Gene Newman, in need, handed me a flag and gave me a quick brief on what to look for.
Since then, I've done lines many times, floor official a few times and tower twice, including Tuesday evening.
I guess many who officiate frequently don't feel the heebie-jeebies, but every time I've taken the floor, I've been as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room filled with rocking chairs. Tuesday was no exception.
I think I missed two calls, one an out call when the ball went beyond the baseline on serve (I thought I saw the back of the ball catch the line) and when the teams argued that the JVs hit the ball four times in one rally, I thought I saw a block/tip and three hits.
Either way, it was a reminder that it's much easier to be an armchair official, criticizing the merits of everything from calls to qualifications, from the stands. And much more difficult to make instant decisions on calls, selling them emphatically, take the barbs, slings and arrows of fans, coaches and players, out in the open, with no place to hide.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 14, 2009
Don't look now, but Guam High's girls cross country team may be a solid threat at Far East next month at Misawa Air Base, Japan. Led by Alexis Bosworth and Megan Speck, the Panthers captured the first All-Island team championship in Guam High's 12-year history, not just edging defending champion George Washington, but beating them by 23 points.
Don't look now, but Guam High is having one super fall season, period. In addition to cross country, and football going 4-1 and sealing second place in the Interscholastic Football League regular season (another school first), Panthers girls volleyball is playing in Thursday's semifinal against St. John's at the University of Guam Field House.
Heady times, these, in Panther Sports Nation.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 14, 2009
If the right hand don't get you, then the left one will, Tennessee Ernie Ford intoned in the song Sixteen Tons many moons ago. He could very easily have been discussing the Kadena Panthers football backfield, which features four strong hands, including juniors Shariff Coleman, Thomas McDonald and Lotty Smith, which leave the Panthers armed and dangerous for today and the future. Talent and a solid work ethic have led to this lethal combination, coach Sergio Mendoza said. Read their story here.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 13, 2009
The Top Ten
The Top Ten teams in the Stars and Stripes' 2009 Far East high school football ratings, with records through Oct. 10, points and last week's rating, as compiled by Dave Ornauer of Stars and Stripes sports. Ratings are based on teams' win-loss records, quality of wins, strength of roster, schedule and leagues, point differential and team and individual statistics. Maximum rating is 500 points:
Record Pts Pvs
1. Kadena, Okinawa 4-0 464 1
2. George Washington, Guam 5-0 456 2
3. Zama American, Japan 4-1 452 3
4. American School In Japan 4-2 448 7
5. Daegu American, South Korea 4-0 444 5
6. Guam High 4-1 440 6
7. Yokota, Japan 5-2 424 4
8. Father Duenas Memorial, Guam 3-2 420 8
9. John F. Kennedy, Guam 3-2 392 9
10. Robert D. Edgren, Japan 3-3 364 --
Week 7 grid honors
Kadena—Shariff Coleman 155 yards, 2 touchdowns, 18 carries. Thomas McDonald 137 yards, 2 touchdowns, 11 carries. Stanley Schrock 104 yards, 2 touchdowns, 9 carries. Lotty Smith 98 yards, 1 touchdown, 11 carries.
Robert D. Edgren—Ja’Maal Dennis 205 yards, 3 touchdowns, 23 carries. Zach Davis 5-for-8, 120 yards, 1 touchdown. James Ervin 2 interceptions, 60-yard punt-return touchdown. Matt Delapaz 1 interception, 40-yards touchdown catch. Matt Linder 2 interceptions.
Nile C. Kinnick—Elijah Gamble 247 all-purpose yards, 2 touchdowns (159 yards, 2 touchdowns, 32 carries; 88 yards, 3 returns). Nathan White 2 fumble recoveries.
Osan American-Jake Mattison 3 touchdown passes. Julian Johnson 2 touchdown catches.
Singapore Falcons-Danny Albanese 4 interceptions, 2 touchdown catches. Andrew Roberts 3 touchdown passes. Jeffry Smith 2 interceptions. Max Shaulis 2 touchdown runs.
Guam High—Aaron Cosey 4-for-4, 45 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 touchdown run. Jason Brunson 165 all-purpose yards, 2 touchdowns (65 yards, 7 carries; 85-yard kick-return touchdown; 15-yard touchdown catch). Ed Cruz 15 tackles, 1 sack. Evan Ola 6 tackles, 2 sacks.
American School In Japan-Alex Busam 137 yards, 4 touchdowns, 13 carries. Hayden Jardine 2-for-3, 80 yards, 1 touchdown.
Okkodo-Bryan Flores 263 yards total offense, 3 touchdowns.
Southern-Nick Cruz 99 yards, 1 touchdown, 5 carries.
Week 8 lookahead
Friday
Japan
Zama American at Robert D. Edgren, 7 p.m.—They don’t get much more crucial than this – three-time defending Class A champion Eagles and visiting Trojans have Class A title-game berth on the line, Trojans can all but clinch their first DODEA Japan Football League title. ... Trojans 26, Eagles 21.
South Korea
Daegu American at Seoul American, 6 p.m.—Warriors stand at the cusp of their first season sweep of the Falcons in school history. Falcons, though, will likely defend their home turf to a tee to avoid that bit of history. ... Warriors 16, Falcons 14.
Saturday
Japan
Nile C. Kinnick at American School In Japan, 1 p.m.—This will be the only day game in Japan this season. Red Devils trying to spoil ASIJ’s homecoming; Mustangs tune up for next Friday’s showdown at Zama with Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools title on the line. ... Mustangs 28, Red Devils 10.
Kadena at Yokota, 7 p.m.--With this Kadena team, as Tennessee Ernie Ford might have sang once, if the right hand don't get you, the left one will. Be it Shariff Coleman, Thomas McDonald, Lotty Smith or Stan Schrock, Yokota will have its hands full, as it has the last two weeks with Zama and ASIJ. ... Kadena 27, Yokota 13.
Guam
Father Duenas Memorial at Okkodo, 10 a.m.—Euphoria of school-first win last week over Southern won’t last long as Bulldogs get a dress rehearsal of next week’s playoff game against the same Friars. … Friars 27, Bulldogs 13.
Southern at Guam High, 3 p.m.—Another playoff preview as Jason Brunson and the Panthers provide the Dolphins a sign of things to come on Oct. 24. … Panthers 25, Dolphins 8.
George Washington at John F. Kennedy, 3 p.m.—Island’s oldest rivalry winds up the season, visiting Geckos will enjoy a week’s bye before the playoffs; Islanders tune up for their showdown with defending champion Simon Sanchez. … Geckos 29, Islanders 12.
Last week-5-2, .714.
Season-24-11, .686.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 11, 2009
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as Ornauer prepares for this weekend's run through Misawa, Mustang Valley and Bonk Field, three games in 27 hours:
-- Only once before had I ever seen a football game in which one team had four ballcarriers go over 100 yards (Army when it beat Montana 45-31 in the old Mirage Bowl in 1984 at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium). Kadena came close on Friday, Shariff Coleman 155 yards, 2 touchdowns, 18 carries; Thomas McDonald 137 yards, 2 touchdowns, 11 carries; Stanley Schrock 104 yards, 2 touchdowns, 9 carries; Lotty Smith 98 yards, 1 touchdown, 11 carries.
-- Kadena's 43-0 Homecoming shutout of Kubasaki marked the 11th straight quarter that the Panthers held the Dragons scoreless. Kadena has outscored Kubasaki 120-0 since falling behind 10-0 to the Dragons in the first quarter of Game 1 of the Okinawa Activities Council's best-of-five series last month.
-- Kadena now has won four straight league titles, 14 straight games against Kubasaki dating back to the 2006 season and is now 15-2 against the Dragons in the five seasons the OAC series meant a berth in the Far East Class AA playoffs.
-- It's not just Coleman's yards; it's how he gets them. Sees the whole field, totally unafraid to reverse his field, and can cut on a dime and give you nine cents change. T-Mac is just about as dangerous, Smith bulls ahead like a fullback 50 pounds heaver than he, while Schrock had five carries of 10 yards or more.
-- So, just what is going on in the Kanto Plain? And Korea? Talk about two leagues that have simply been turned on their heads this season. Or perhaps Halloween has come early?
-- I mean, American School In Japan (Alex Busam 137 yards, 4 TDs, 13 carries) not only beats Yokota for the first time since a 28-14 win on Nov. 7, 1998, but the Mustangs utterly squash the Panthers 48-8?
-- First two-game losing streak for Yokota since the 1999 regular season. First time Yokota has ever been on the business end of a mercy-rule game that ended with a running clock.
-- Yokota (5-2 overall, 3-2 Kanto) now in third place in the Kanto Plain, trailing first-place Zama American (3-1) and ASIJ (2-1).
-- ASIJ was coming off a three-way flu-induced layoff. So, too, did Robert D. Edgren return after three weeks on the sideline, having lost two scheduled games, one with ASIJ due to the flu. And both the Mustangs and Eagles thrived after the long layoffs.
-- Ja'Maal Dennis rushed 23 times for 205 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles soared past Nile C. Kinnick 33-15. Zach Davis, who hadn't played in a month, went 5-for-8 for 120 yards and a TD.
-- But defense won the day for Edgren, as Matt Linder and James Ervin each had two of the Eagles' five interceptions. Matt Delapaz had the other pick and also caught the TD pass from Davis.
-- Little Elijah Gamble continues to play like a giant for Kinnick. In the last two games, he has 58 carries for 326 yards and a pair of scores.
-- Rough day for freshman Channing Meyer, who was harried and harrassed all game by the Eagles' defense. He went 9-for-28 for 85 yards. Call that his baptism of fire.
-- Not since 1993, when Rob Boyd and Kevin Phillips were carrying the mail, has Daegu American won a Korea senior league title -- the first time the title ever went south of the Han River. The Warriors have a chance to wrap up their first crown since then, and the first since DODEA Korea took over football in 2003. A win Friday at Seoul American would seal it.
-- Never before had Daegu beaten Seoul American twice in one season in the DODEA Korea league, until Friday, when Antoine Feagin (rushing and kick-return TDs) edged the Falcons 13-8 at Camp Walker's Kelly Field.
-- As with Edgren, defense was also a winning formula for Daegu, with Anthony Lampman (16 tackles) and Xavian Washburn (10) harrying Falcons quarterback Brandon Morton and Seoul's running backs all game long.
-- Defense also carried the Singapore Falcons to a resounding 45-20 win Saturday over Osan American at Singapore American School's vast sports complex. The Falcons picked off seven Cougars passes. Danny Albanese picked off four, Jeffry Smith netted two and Brandon Lay intercepted the last one.
-- Andrew Roberts tossed two TD passes to Albanese and one to Andrew Cox. Max Shaulis ran for a pair of scores and Hayes Kimball capped the Falcons' scoring with a 60-yard run.
-- One thing Osan discovered was a passing game. Jake Mattison fired two touchdown passes to Julian Johnson and one to Dominique Williams.
-- The Cougars simply didn't quit until the final whistle, Falcons coaches said. "They came well prepared," Jamie Matisin said.
-- Seems like shattering glass ceiling after glass ceiling is quite agreeable for Guam High, which on Saturday clinched second place in the Interscholastic Football League, the best regular-season finish in school history. They also clinch a first-round playoff bye with their 27-12 win over John F. Kennedy.
-- Aaron Cosey was an economic 4-for-4 for 45 yards, but two of those were touchdown passes, one to Jason Brunson and the other to Devon Jacobs. Cosey also ran for a TD. Brunson also returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and finished with 165 combined yards.
-- Apparently, startup program Okkodo has a little something on the ball. The Bulldogs got the first win in school history 20-13 over Southern. Father Duenas Memorial sealed third place and a first-round playoff game with winless Southern by beating defending champion Simon Sanchez on Friday.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 9, 2009
UPDATED at 10 p.m. Saturday.
-- Kadena 43, Kubasaki 0. Panthers nearly had four RBs go over 100 yards, clinch fourth straight Class AA playoff berth.
-- American School In Japan 48, Yokota 8. ASIJ's first win over Yokota since Nov. 7, 1998. Yokota's worst loss in 19 years, ASIJ's biggest-ever win over Yokota, Yokota on two-game Kanto skid after winning league-record 41 straight.
-- Daegu American 13, Seoul American 8. A win next Friday at Seoul gives Daegu its first league title since 1993, when youth activities was running the league.
-- Father Duenas Memorial 33, Simon Sanchez 12. Battle for second place and first-round playoff bye still very much alive.
-- Robert D. Edgren 33, Nile C. Kinnick 15. Coming off three-week layoff, Eagles pick off five Red Devils passes, Ja'Maal Dennis runs for three touchdowns.
-- Singapore Falcons 45, Osan American 20. Tight battle in the first quarter, but Falcons pull away. Fourth victory in the Korea-Singapore series for the Falcons.
-- Okkodo 20, Southern 13. Startup Bulldogs seem to be a bit better than Ornauer thought.
-- Guam High 27, John F. Kennedy 12. Panthers clinch school-best second-place regular-season IFL finish.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 7, 2009
The Top Ten
The Top Ten teams in the Stars and Stripes’ 2009 Far East high school football ratings, with records through Oct. 3, points and last week’s rating, as compiled by Dave Ornauer of Stars and Stripes sports. Ratings are based on teams’ win-loss records, quality of wins, strength of roster, schedule and leagues, point differential and team and individual statistics. Maximum rating is 500 points:
| | Record | Pts | Pvs |
| 1. Kadena, Okinawa | 3-0 | 460 | 1 |
| 2. Geo. Washington, Guam | 5-0 | 456 | 1 |
| 3. Zama American, Japan | 4-1 | 452 | 5 |
| 4. Yokota, Japan | 5-1 | 440 | 3 |
| 5. Daegu, South Korea | 3-0 | 436 | 4 |
| 6. Guam High | 3-1 | 432 | 5 |
| 7. ASIJ | 3-2 | 420 | 7 |
| 8. Father Duenas, Guam | 2-2 | 416 | 8 |
| 9. John F. Kennedy, Guam | 3-1 | 412 | 9 |
| 10. Seoul American | 1-2 | 372 | — |
Week 6 grid honors
Kinnick—Elijah Gamble 167 yards, 26 carries. Channing Meyer 7-for-13, 91 yards, 2 touchdowns. Nick White 2?½ sacks, 3 batted passes.
Kubasaki—Josh Bales 164 yards, 1 touchdown, 30 carries. Andrew Haar 2 fumble recoveries.
Kadena—Shariff Coleman 163 yards, 3 touchdowns, 8 carries; 1 touchdown return.
Zama American—Michael Spencer 205 yards, 3 touchdowns, 28 carries. Mike Jorgenson 2 touchdown runs. Malcolm Franklin 2 fumble recoveries.
Yokota—Gerald McCloud 105 yards, 13 carries; 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception. DeEric Harvin 3-for-9, 46 yards, 1 touchdown; 49 yards, 11 carries.
Seoul American—Brandon Morton 5-for-17, 151 yards, 1 touchdown; 2 fumble recoveries. Adrian Thomas 156 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 catches.
Week 7 lookahead
Friday
Japan
Edgren at Kinnick, 7 p.m.: Eagles must shake off the rust of a three-week layoff on the road against a Red Devils team reveling in Spirit Week and rejuvenated after getting first win of season over Kubasaki. ... Eagles 21, Red Devils 17.
Yokota at American School In Japan, 7 p.m.: Speaking of teams coming off lengthy layoffs, the Mustangs host a Panthers team licking its wounds from that 33-6 loss at Zama last week. ... Panthers 20, Mustangs 14.
South Korea
Seoul American vs. Daegu American at Kelly Field, Camp Walker, 6 p.m.: Falcons enter this one seeking payback for having had their homecoming spoiled last October by the Warriors. Won’t happen this time. ... Warriors 17, Falcons 13.
Okinawa
Kubasaki vs. Kadena at Ryukyu Middle School, 7 p.m.: Speaking of homecomings, the Panthers hope theirs is a happy one as they look to seal their fourth straight Okinawa Activities Council title and Class AA playoff berth. ... Panthers 22, Dragons 12.
Guam
Simon Sanchez vs. Father Duenas Memorial at George Washington High School, Mangilao, 7 p.m.: Friars hope their homecoming is just as joyous as they try to remain in the chase for one of two postseason first-round byes. ... Friars 18, Sharks 6.
Saturday
Guam
Southern at Okkodo, 10 a.m.: In a battle of the winless, give a slight edge to the Dolphins, who at least have experience, while the Bulldogs remain a startup unit. ... Dolphins 3, Bulldogs 2.
John F. Kennedy at Guam High, 3 p.m.: These two teams and the Friars are the ones chasing that second-place spot and first-round playoff bye. Panthers continue to show they’re for real this season. ... Panthers 21, Islanders 15.
Last week—1-2, .333.
Season—19-9, .679.
Midseason report card
Japan
Zama American (4-1) – What they’ve done: Move the ball as efficiently as at any time in school history; beaten Yokota for the first time since 1998. What they need: Keep healthy and remember, they’ve not won a thing yet; Oct. 16 at Edgren looms on the horizon, a Class A title-game berth on the line. Grade: A-.
Yokota (5-1) – What they’ve done: Clinched an 11th straight playoff berth. What they need: Help from other folks if an 11th straight DODEA Japan or Kanto Plain title is in the cards; a healthy Rainey Daley back in the lineup. Grade: B+
American School In Japan (3-2) – What they’ve done: Gone unbeaten on the field, demonstrated great balance on offense. What they need: Victories over Zama and Yokota, a way to reschedule two games lost to the flu. Grade: Incomplete.
Robert D. Edgren (2-3) – What they’ve done: Shown big-play capability, handled Kinnick easily 51-0 at home. What they need: On-field leadership, a victory by 17 or more points over Zama on Oct. 16. Grade: B-
Nile C. Kinnick (1-5) – What they’ve done: Found a passer in freshman wunderkind Channing Meyer, finally tasted victory over Kubasaki after a series of sound defeats. What they need: Keep the momentum going. Grade: C+
South Korea
Daegu American (3-0) – What they’ve done: Earned a breakout 23-point victory over perennial power Seoul, gone up 1-0 in the season series with Osan. What they need: To finish the job, beat Seoul Friday at homecoming and at Osan on Oct. 23 for first DODEA Korea title and a Class A title-game berth. Grade: A-
Seoul American (1-2) – What they’ve done: Rallied from the school’s first 0-2 start to avenge season-opening loss at Osan. What they need: Exact revenge on Daegu for last year’s homecoming debacle, and remember they can still win their third Class AA title in four years. Grade: C+
Osan American (1-2) – What they’ve done: Started the season on the right foot, beating Seoul at home on Cougars’ new field turf. What they need: A rousing performance Saturday at Singapore, somehow manage to beat Daegu by 24 or more points on Oct. 23. Grade: C.
Okinawa
Kadena (3-0) – What they’ve done: Gone up 2-0 on Kubasaki in race for Okinawa’s Class AA playoff berth, found a truly explosive weapon in Shariff Coleman. What they need: Very little other than stay healthy, win Friday’s homecoming game so they can use the Oct. 23 game at Kubasaki to try things and tune up for playoffs. Grade: A+
Kubasaki (0-3) — What they’ve done: Went up 10-0 on Kadena in first half of first game before Panthers scored 27 unanswered. What they need: Cash in on opportunities like the two late ones that slipped away Saturday at Kinnick, remember to play all 48 minutes. Grade: C-.
Guam
Guam High (3-1) – What they’ve done: Beaten Simon Sanchez and Father Duenas Memorial in the same season for the first time, improved to a school-best record after four games. What they need: Beat George Washington for the championship this time. Grade: A-.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 7, 2009
SportsBlog Nation:
Just today (so far), I've had to remove 10 comments for foul language and other forms of hate/abuse and have had to outright ban one user. That's three users sent to the sidelines in just the last six weeks.
So everybody will understand: I am not happy.
Pacific SportsBlog is here for one reason: A platform for discussion of Pacific high school and military sports topics of the day. It is not here for keyboard commandos to behave crudely and spread messages of hate.
I expect better than that. I hold SportsBlog to a much higher standard than community Web sites such as CBS Sports (dot) com or Fox Sports (dot) com, which breed hate, which encourage it. This is the "No-Hate Zone" for a reason.
We're not debating the T.O.'s and the OchoCinco's of the world, whose jobs partly include taking that sort of abuse from American fandom.
We're talking young, impressionable high school student-athletes who don't play for big-money contracts and before the national media but for the glory of representing their schools and bases and winning their respective leagues.
Let's keep it that way. Keep the discussion lively. Be true to your school. But keep it real.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 7, 2009
He wasn't even supposed to be here this school year, or even last; his father, Dwyane Harvin, was due to leave his assignment with Yokota Air Base's 374th Medical Group for green pastures elsewhere. But dad extended long enough to ensure his son DeEric would graduate at Yokota. Now that DeEric has his wish, he's pursuing unfinished business -- Far East Class AA titles in football and basketball -- with a sense of urgency. Read his story here.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 7, 2009
Rare does a day go by when Kennedy Allen doesn't think about Nov. 6, 2008, when her dream of winning back-to-back girls singles titles in the Far East High School Tennis Tournament was shattered by Kadena's Elissa Mason. Now, Allen, a Seoul American senior, has set about the business of trying to scramble back to the top. She discusses defending a championship, and how much harder that is than to win one, here.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 7, 2009
They weren't supposed to be this good this quickly, a team laden with underclassmen. Yet there's Daegu American volleyball at 8-2, second-best start in school history, third place in the Korean-American Interscholastic Activities Conference Division I and with eyes set on top KAIAC honors and maybe even a Far East Class A Tournament title on the Warriors' home court. Read their story here.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 5, 2009
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as we gaze atop the DODEA Japan and Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools standings at a new leader:
-- Not for 15 years has Zama American won even a share of the Kanto Plain. Not since 2002 have the Trojans occupied first place in Kanto and DODEA Japan. Now, they have a chance to win both, after Friday's 33-6 victory over 10-time champion Yokota.
-- The teams split the season series 1-1, but the Trojans hold the tiebreaker edge, an 11-point differential edge. Yokota remains a half-game ahead in each league, but Zama has a game in hand and if the two teams finish with one loss each, Zama would win the league.
-- That's not to say Zama has it in the bag. There's a lot of football left to be played, particularly Oct. 16, when the Trojans visit Robert D. Edgren with a Far East Class A title-game berth on the line, and Oct. 23 when the Trojans host an ASIJ team hungry to play after missing two weeks with the flu. An ASIJ team that would love nothing more than to terminate the Trojans' Kanto title bid.
-- We're used to seeing such rushing totals out the blue and gold. Zama pounded the ball down Yokota's throat, to the tune of 413 yards on 59 carries with five touchdowns and a school-record 22 first downs. Michael Spencer led the way with 205 yards on 28 carries and a TD hat trick.
-- That gives the Trojans 1,584 yards on 225 carries, 7.04 yards per carry. Yokota-esque.
-- Of the 62 plays Zama rain on Friday, just four went for negative yardage.
-- You think Steven Merrell isn't happy he decided to return to the Trojans' sideline for a third season?
-- It's what's up front that counts. And up front, ahead of the running backs, Tevin Johnson, John Iredale, Lee Spurling, Roland Cote and Ken Schulteis have been plowing the road and making life much easier for the likes of Spencer, Ryan Blackstock (77 yards, 7 carries) and Ashton Norwood (85 yards, 4 carries) among others.
-- Sometimes, it takes one play to turn an entire game around. Yokota won the opening toss and chose to receive ... then promptly fumbled on the game's first play. Spencer's fumble recovery sure set the tone for the game.
-- Looks as if Seoul American has found it's go-to passing pair. Brandon Morton (7-for-11, 151 yards) and Adrian Thomas (156 yards, 3 catches, 1 touchdown) struck the right note on Friday as the Falcons came away victors for the first time this season.
-- Their works helped the Falcons avenge their season-opening 12-0 loss at Osan American on Sept. 12. Seoul American came away victorious 14-10 on Friday at Falcon Field.
-- Can the Falcons keep it going at Camp Walker against Daegu American, the team that wrecked Seoul American's homecoming last season?
-- All I can say about Kadena's game Friday against Ryukyu University is: "It's about bloody time." Kadena and Kubasaki playing regular-season games against Ryudai was a tradition that ended in 2003 over safety concerns. It was revived this year by the two American teams looking to beef up their varsity schedules as much as they can.
-- While Zama rides high as the new sheriff in town in Japan, Kadena's own Sharif (junior Sharif Coleman) continues to pile up the yards and touchdowns on Okinawa, 163 and 3 on 8 carries. In three games, the speedy Coleman has 424 yards and 8 touchdowns on 35 carries -- 12.11 yards per carry.
-- Did freshman quarterback Channing Meyer look like a grizzled veteran or what on Saturday? Cool as ice he was in going 5-for-7 for 71 yards and a touchdown pass of 38 yards to Fransisco Quiocho late in the first half of Nile C. Kinnick's 19-16 win over Kubasaki at Yokosuka Naval Base's Berkey Field.
-- The first interarea battle between the Red Devils and Dragons in school history saw a game within a game, featuring the teams' two star tailbacks. Kinnick's Elijah Gamble and Kubasaki's Josh Bales, whom if you put one on top of the other wouldn't reach Wilt Chamberlain's height but play like Titans on the field, combined for 331 yards on 56 carries. Bales finished with 174 yards total offense; Gamble had 290 combined yards. Oh, and the two might end up wrestling each other this season; they're about the same weight, about 130 pounds.
-- The difference in the game lay not with Kubasaki unable to convert deep in Kinnick territory in the closing minutes, but what happened in the first quarter, Dragons coach Fred Bales said. "We forgot to play defense the first 10 minutes and spotted them a 13-point lead." Hardly the recipe for victory, particularly on the road.
-- That Kinnick team, by the way, is better than most people think. Far better than 55-6 and 34-6 losers to Yokota and a 51-0 drubbing at Robert D. Edgren.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 2, 2009
Factoids that maybe a of little interest to anybody except Ornauer.
Yokota has won the last 10 DODEA Japan and Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools titles.
Prior to 1999, DODEA Japan didn't exist. Only the Kanto Plain league existed in Japan.
Nile C. Kinnick won the Kanto title from 1995-98.
Zama American and American School In Japan shared the Kanto title in 1994, splitting their season series. Zama beat ASIJ at home 24-13 and ASIJ returned the favour 21-16. The Kanto Plain league constitution didn't have a tiebreaker provision; thus, Zama and ASIJ shared the title.
Yokota won Kanto from 1991-93.
Nile C. Kinnick halted Yokota's 39-game Kanto league winning streak on Oct. 5, 1990, beating Yokota 47-6. Kinnick went 5-0-1 that season, Yokota 4-1-1 (including a 10-10 home tie with Kinnick).
Yokota won the Kanto title from 1984-89.
American School In Japan won in 1983.
Yokota won 1981-82.
Nile C. Kinnick won in 1980.
Yokota won from 1973-79. 1973 was the first season the league was reconstituted to include just Zama American, Nile C. Kinnick, Yokota and American School In Japan. Schools such as Johnson, Chofu and Yamato closed their doors at that point as Kanto bases were streamlined during the post-Vietnam drawdown.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 2, 2009
UPDATED at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4.
-- Zama American 33, Yokota 6. No typos, no misprint. Michael Spencer & Co. simply rammed the ball down Yokota's throat. Yokota's 41-game Kanto Plain winning streak over. Zama's 22-game futility streak against Yokota over.
-- Kadena 48, Ryukyu University 3. Old tradition discontinued in 2003 is revived. Sharif Coleman (four touchdowns) has a huge night.
-- Seoul American 14, Osan American 10. Brandon Morton QBs Falcons to win despite flu-like symptoms. Adrian Thomas catches 95-yard TD pass and sets up game-winning score with 62-yard catch.
-- Nile C. Kinnick 19, Kubasaki 16. Freshman Channing Meyer continues to flourish, two TD tosses and one TD run all in first half.
-- Entire Saturday Guam slate washed out by Typhoon Melor. Entire IFL schedule gets pushed back a week, with regular season now ending on Oct. 17.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 1, 2009
A reader commented a few days ago that blogs are communities and forums for open discussion. Unfortunately, too many blogs become forums for keyboard commandos hiding behind fictitious handles to vent and spread messages of hate, which snowballs into more and more of that same type of wrongful discourse.
I hold Pacific SportsBlog to a higher standard than that. I call it the "No-Hate Zone" for a reason. While some topics posted here can be "hot button" in nature, in no way should the discourse here ever be personal. We can all be adults/young adults, stay on topic and leave the personal comments to CBS Sports (dot) com or Fox Sports (dot) com, which breed hate, which encourage it.
So, please ... keep it lively, but keep it real. Remember what we're here for: open but civil debate on the topics of the day that are of interest in our great Pacific sports community.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 1, 2009
Nile C. Kinnick's girls volleyball team continues to blaze trails like no Red Devils team before them. Now 13-0, their best record to this point in school history, Mary Niemeyer & Co. claimed yet another school first on Tuesday in winning at Christian Academy In Japan in five sets -- Kinnick had never before beaten Seisen International, American School In Japan and CAJ all in the same season. ASIJ and CAJ have held a monolith on the Far East Class AA Tournament title the last four years. Who knows if Kinnick may be next. But the Red Devils are making a strong case.
