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MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Yakota Air Base Warriors try to advance the ball, with little success, Aug 13. Misawa played host to United States Forces Japan-American Football League North division championship game, where the Misawa Jets defeated the Yokota Warriors by a score of 21-14. The Jets have earned a berth in the USFJ-AFL Torii Bowl. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Maria J. Bare)
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Misawa Jets soar over Yokota Warriors
Posted 8/15/2011 Updated 8/17/2011
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by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
8/15/2011 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Misawa played host to United States Forces Japan American Football League North division championship game Aug. 13, where the Misawa Jets defeated the Yokota Warriors by a score of 21-14.
The Jets entered the championship with a spotless record of 4-0 and had no plans of tarnishing their performance against this tough rival from down south.
"We plan on coming out and playing the type of football we've played all year," said Ben Mathe, Jets' head coach. "We have a hard-nosed offense and dominating defense and that's what we are going to focus on, the rest will take care of itself."
This spirit was infectious with the Jets team.
"I know we're going to win today," said Ben Valenzuela, Jets' defensive back and wide receiver. "We've practiced hard all year and the whole team is ready for war; we're not scared."
However, the Warriors weren't going to take a backseat and let the Jets run rough shod over their dreams of victory.
"We came to win," said Selwin Jones, Warriors' head coach.
Before the game, when pre-games tensions were their highest, both teams entered into their pre-battle rituals, which consisted of prayers for safe and good fortune and inspirational cheering to get them mentally prepared for the ensuing melee.
Per the coin toss, between the referees and the team captains, the Jets were chosen to kick the opening salvo, to commence the slobber-knocker for the division title.
From the beginning, the teams and the audience settled in for a seesaw battle of defensive aggression and offensive strategies between two rivals.
The first blood was drawn by Jets quarterback Douglas Brown, who launched the pigskin to wide receiver Nick Samuels, who intern rumbled the last few yards into the end zone and with the extra point to follow, the Jets ended the first quarter 7-0.
The second quarter started with an impressive drive by the Jets' offense. But, they were denied entry into the end zone at the one-yard line by the Warriors' juggernaut of a defense squad, the likes of which have only been seen once before, when the Spartans fought the Persian Army. The ball changed possession and it was time for the Warriors to bring their own rain.
On the Warriors' second play from within the red zone, the Jets' defense put on a titanic display of their own and jammed the receiver back into his end zone scoring a safety and raising the score to 9-0 in favor of the Jets.
However, the Warriors would not be denied. After picking up a fumbled ball, the Warriors' defensive dissected the rest of the Jets' offensive line to streak in for a touchdown followed by an aggressive two- point conversion. Now that the score was almost tied 9-8 the Jets knew they were in a fight and the Warriors weren't here to play... but win.
Before the half-time could commence, each team rounded out the quarter with a turnover and at the half the score was 9-8, Jets.
This intermission wasn't a time for licking wounds received during a brutal first two quarters, it was a time to prepare and plan for the ensuing battle to come in the second half of this North Division title showdown.
"Both teams are playing hard football," said Eugene Scott, officiating crew head referee, during the game. "It's really good football and the second half is going to mirror the first...low scoring and real tough."
The third quarter started with the Jets receiving a booming kick from the Warriors.
Late in the third, Nick Samuels, under the center, threw a laser to Donterrio Erby, wide receiver, who juked and jived his way into the end zone, cranking the score to 15-8, ending the quarter in favor of the Jets.
The Jets started the fourth quarter with a little chicanery. From two yards out, a quarter back sneak levied another six points to scoreboard. But, with a miss-fired extra point attempt, the score settled at 21-8.
Nevertheless, the heart of the warrior would not be denied and the Yokota Warriors' offense snatched a well placed pass out of the sky and bolted for the end zone for a touchdown. Jets' defenders were determined to stop the extra point and with some hard tackling effectively closing the door. They stopped the extra point attempt, which brought the curtain down on the game and on the Warriors hopes for a Torii Bowl berth.
The final score after the match was 21-14 for the Jets.
"Winning this title feels really good," said Kevin Liebert, defensive lineman. "We brought the trophy back to Misawa where it belongs and for the bowl game we're going to bring more than this, just stay tuned and don't blink.
The Torii Bowl kicksoff at Misawa Air Base Aug. 20, when the Jets take on the Camp Foster Bulldogs.
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