CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa – Switching Isaiah Johnson from receiver to quarterback paid its biggest dividend yet for Kubasaki this season Saturday and as a result, the Dragons will host the Far East Division I title game for the second straight season.

Johnson threw two touchdown passes to Miles Mahlock and also rushed for a TD while Bobby Reigert returned an interception for a score, lifting the Dragons to a 49-7 win that eliminated the Red Devils from D-I title consideration.

“This was a good bounceback for us,” coach Fred Bales said of the victory, which capped homecoming week and came on the heels of a 27-14 loss to Kadena the week before. Some 50 alumni feted the triumph.

“We got a good start on offense, our quarterback got into a good rhythm, we were fortunate to get a fast start and keep it going,” Bales said. “We still have work to do, but it was a good team win by the guys. I’m proud of them.”

Kubasaki won the season series from Kadena and won on the road at American School In Japan in late September. The Dragons will host either Kadena or American School In Japan in the D-I championship on Nov. 7.

Johnson, the Pacific’s total offense leader, ran for 82 yards on seven carries and was 16-for-19 for 204 yards. Mahlock caught seven passes for 148 yards, including touchdowns of 38 and 32 yards.

Javohn Journigan rushed for 129 yards on nine carries, including a 66-yard TD run. Lester Parker added 84 yards on six carries with a touchdown and Triston Puckett ran seven times for 54 yards and a touchdown. Jacob Green caught five passes for 35 yards.

Defensively, Marcus Lee led the Dragons with 10 tackles. Cody Taylor recovered a fumble and had three tackles for losses, as did Antony Gomez. Anthony Macaluso also intercepted a Kinnick pass.

Kinnick’s offense “gave us trouble” in the early going, getting a 9-yard touchdown run by Chauncey Jamerson. But it was all the Red Devils could muster and the Dragons “kept it under control” in the second half. Jamerson had 110 yards on 20 carries.

Turnovers and penalties “set us back early in the game, got us out of synch and out of rhythm with the offense early,” Kinnick coach Dan Joley said, adding the game allowed him to get some of his younger players more playing time. “Great opportunity for them to play.”

Kinnick next has a chance to play spoiler when it hosts ASIJ, the only team with a shot at catching Kadena for the D-I title-game visitor’s berth. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Friday. Kubasaki hosts Seoul American at 4 p.m. Saturday.

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