By Dave Ornauer
Published: November 4, 2012
Matthew C. Perry’s tennis team survived a major scare aboard All-Nippon Airways Flight 977 out of Hiroshima on Sunday. On approach to Naha International Airport in driving rain and howling crosswinds on Sunday afternoon, the plane suddenly pitched and nosed down, coming within 300 feet of crashing, coach Mark Lange said. The pilot somehow pulled up and aborted the landing and eventually flew back to Kagoshima in southeastern Kyushu, where it was raining no less hard. Lange pulled his team off the plane, and they plan to resume their journey to Okinawa and the Far East tournament at Kadena on Monday morning, ANA Flight 475 from Kagoshima to Naha.
Now, for the predictions:
By Dave Ornauer
Published: November 4, 2012
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as the wheels turn in Ornauer’s head, speculating on what a Singapore vs. Yokota football matchup would be like:
-- Yokota a clear-cut No. 1? Singapore might have a say: Everything on Yokota football’s docket is now complete after Saturday’s 52-12 battering of Kadena, save for one last task: the DODDS Pacific Far East Division I championship game it hosts on Nov. 17 against Kubasaki. The rematch of last year’s 34-6 title-game win over Kubasaki. The rematch of last month’s 31-6 win by Yokota at Kubasaki.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: November 3, 2012
Interesting discussions I’ve had with a handful of DODDS Pacific cross-country coaches the past few days, discussing the possibility of attending next October’s Asia-Pacific Invitational meet on Guam and lobbying DODDS Pacific officials to consider partnering with the API and making that the true Far East meet.
It makes perfect sense, when you think about it.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: November 3, 2012
ESPN has planned a weeklong salute to America’s veterans and troops in honor of Veterans Day, programming scheduled to air Nov. 7-11 across its U.S. media platforms, some of which will air on the American Forces Network, ESPN and AFN officials announced Friday in separate statements.
The centerpiece event is the Armed Forces Classic basketball game between Connecticut and Michigan State on Friday (Saturday Japan-Korea time) in Hangar 5 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, with SportsCenter originating from Hangar 3.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: November 2, 2012
The Top Ten
The Top Ten teams in the Stars and Stripes' weekly Far East high school football ratings, with records through Oct. 27, 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. Yokota, Japan 9-0 464 1
2. Simon Sanchez, Guam 7-2 436 4
3. Guam High 8-1 428 5
4. Singapore American 3-0 424 6
5. Kubasaki, Okinawa 6-2 420 2
6. George Washington, Guam 6-2 412 3
7. Zama American, Japan 5-4 408 7
8. American School in Japan 5-3 388 10
9. Okkodo, Guam 4-4 384 8
10. Kadena, Okinawa 3-3 380 9
Week 10 grid honors
Guam High—L.J. Aguon 5-for-14, 102 yards, 2 touchdowns; 32 yards, 2 touchdowns, 10 carries. Mark Ecija 67 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 catches. Cody Burpo 2 interceptions. Joshua Hernandez punt block for touchdown, fumble recovery.
Kubasaki—Jarrett Mitchell 131 yards, touchdown, 12 carries.
Yokota—Morgan Breazell 131 yards, 3 touchdowns, 19 carries. Ke’Ondre Davis 2 fumble recoveries.
Seoul American—Ronald Dogan 142 yards, touchdown, 12 carries. Cameron Harris 9-for-13, touchdown, 86 yards.
