Devils hope improved line, bonding at Fuji lead to turnaround

Stars & Stripes
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan | August 19, 2012

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan – His first two years at Nile C. Kinnick could have left Dan Joley hungering for a return to North Side High in Fort Wayne, Ind., from whence he came three seasons ago. The Red Devils have gone 5-13 on his watch with one Far East Division I playoff loss in as many appearances.

How to turn things around? Joley and his staff of assistants thought a week-long retreat to Camp Fuji might be a good starting point.

They did a week-long series of two-a-day practices. They did daily physical training with Marines assigned to Fuji. They climbed Mount Fuji; 42 of the 53 players made the summit.

In short, they bonded as no Red Devils team has in years, Joley said. That, plus an improved offensive line, has him optimistic that the program is turning the corner.

“Climbing that mountain with these kids; I trust them,” Joley said. “We have a goal in mind and I’m excited to show people what we’re about. I’m really confident about this group.”

Especially confident in a collection of nine offensive linemen, a year older and a year wiser, and averages more than 200 pounds across. The last time the Red Devils featured such a line, they went 9-0 and won the 1996 Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools title.

“Last year, we had good skills players and a suspect line,” Joley said. “This year, we have a strong, solid line and good skills-positions players. I’m excited.”

Plowing the road is a group including juniors Daniel Costello at center and Ian O’Brien at right tackle, with Ka’i Warford, a sophomore, in the mix.

Regarding skills players, All-Far East player Dustin Kimbrell has graduated. In his place on all sides of the ball are holdover Quinton Holden, whom Joley calls “one of the best athletes in the Pacific; quarterback Dustin Wilson who is “starting to feel secure in his position; and Marcus Boatwright, a senior transfer from Florida.

“He’s a great kid, one of our team captains,” Joley said. “He’s an athlete. You look at him and you realize he’s something special.”

Will all of that translate into, first of all, a victory over longtime nemesis Yokota, let alone a run at a Far East Division I title-game berth? After all, Yokota hasn’t lost to Kinnick since a 28-0 shutout on Oct. 16, 1998, a span of 26 games.

Joley would only say: “I think we match up well with Yokota.”

By DAVE ORNAUER
Stars and Stripes
Published: August 19, 2012

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