USFJ-AFL football: Okinawa Football League veteran Molloy having blast as Foster receiver
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — One of two holdovers from the Okinawa Football League is enjoying a renaissance as a receiver for the Foster Bulldogs of the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League.
Jonathan Molloy caught his second touchdown pass in two games, a 63-yard first-quarter catch-and-run pass from Frank Bryant, that paced the Bulldogs past defending champion Misawa 9-6 on Friday at Kadena’s McDonald Stadium.
Coach Auburne Edwards calls Molloy an "invaluable leader on and off the field. He, Bryant and (Tim) Craig have been holding us down, keeping us together and on the same page."
The touchdown and extra point were all the points the Bulldogs needed. Foster got a second-quarter safety when a shotgun snap by the Jets sailed out of the end zone.
Defense ruled the night for the Bulldogs, who intercepted three Jets passes and recorded six sacks, giving the team 13 for the season. Michael Redd had three sacks; he leads the league with seven.
The Jets cut the deficit to three points in the third quarter when Darone Frierson (12-for-18, 275 yards) hit Justin Jordan from 35 yards out. Misawa got close to the Foster end zone in the last four minutes, but couldn’t cash in.
With the win, on the heels of last week’s 45-14 romp over Torii, the Bulldogs seized first place in the USFJ-AFL Southern Division and own the USFJ-AFL’s best record at 2-0. The Jets fell to 1-1, a half-game behind the 1-0 Yokosuka Seahawks.
Despite the defeat, Jets coach Jeremy Sanders said he was satisfied with his team’s effort. "I’m more pleased with this loss than the win last week," he said of Misawa’s 8-2 season-opening victory over Yokota.
