Yokosuka uses defense to overpower Yokota; Foster also gets to 3-0
Long a trademark of Yokosuka interservice football, defense has the Seahawks soaring in the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League.
Delrick "Tractor" Traylor recorded three sacks and the Seahawks recovered four fumbles and intercepted four passes in a 41-12 home romp over Yokota. It boosted Northern Division-leading Yokosuka’s record to 3-0.
On Okinawa, Michael Redd ran back a fumbled punt snap 25 yards for a score, and Foster also recorded a safety to match the Seahawks’ unbeaten mark, beating Torii 15-6 and taking a 1½-game Southern Division lead.
Yokosuka 41, Yokota 12: At Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Yokota turnovers and special-teams mistakes played a role in five of Yokosuka’s six touchdowns. William Batten ran back an interception for a TD, and Lorenz Piper intercepted a pass, blocked a punt and ran for a touchdown.
"That’s the way it’s supposed to be. The defense sets up the offense, and the offense finishes plays," Seahawks coach James Price said. "Defense set up opportunities for the offense, and the offense was firing on all cylinders. I was happy with the performance."
Piper, in his second season, has emerged as one of the Seahawks’ "key players," Price said. "He came to play this year. He was motivated today. I’m proud of him."
Price calls Traylor a "natural leader who helps keep the defense focused. He’s really disciplined."
Quarterback tandem Bob Docherty and Anthony Seaman combined for three TD passes, going 7-for-15 for 108 yards, and Docherty also scored his third rushing touchdown of the season. Carl Harris had 137 offensive yards, including a 57-yard TD catch.
Heavily pressured all game, Warriors quarterback Ryan Jones went 8-for-25 for 135 yards, including a 15-yard scoring pass to Frederick Guild. Jones also ran 9 yards for a touchdown.
"We put the ball on the ground way too many times," Yokota coach Herbert Fletcher said. "If you do that, you won’t move the ball against anybody. We have to hold onto the ball and make plays."
Foster 15, Torii 6: At Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Dyamon Durant’s 3-yard second-quarter touchdown run, sandwiched between the safety and Redd’s fumble return, made it 9-0 and proved to be the game-winning score.
But unlike the Bulldogs’ 45-14 season-opening romp over the Wolfpack, Torii’s defense held Foster’s offense to just one touchdown. In the opener, the Bulldogs’ offense produced four TDs.
Chris Speed ran back a punt 70 yards for the Wolfpack’s only points. Speed has scored all three Torii touchdowns this season.
USFJ-AFL
Northern Division
| W | L | Pct. | PF | P A | |||||||
| Yokosuka | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 84 | 49 | ||||||
| Misawa | 1 | 1 | .500 | 14 | 11 | ||||||
| Yokota | 0 | 3 | .000 | 39 | 77 |
Southern Division
| W | L | Pct. | PF | PA | ||||
| Foster | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 69 | 26 | |||
| Kadena | 1 | 1 | .500 | 30 | 15 | |||
| Torii | 0 | 3 | .000 | 20 | 78 |
Saturday’s games
Yokosuka 41, Yokota 12
Camp Foster 15, Torii 6
Saturday, June 6
Kadena at Foster, 5 p.m.
Misawa at Yokota, 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 7
Yokohama Harbors (Japanese club) at Yokosuka, 6 p.m.
