Pacific
Perry off to 2-0 start in new football era
Stars and Stripes
September 19, 2014
Zama's Jaelen Baker tries to elude Matthew C. Perry's Caeleb Ricafrente Friday, during a football game at Camp Zama, Japan. (Anthony Curriera/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Zama's Jaelen Baker tries to elude Matthew C. Perry's Caeleb Ricafrente Friday, during a football game at Camp Zama, Japan. (Anthony Curriera/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Zama's Gabriel Brumage carries the ball as Matthew C. Perry's Tyson Moore gives chase Friday, during a football game at Camp Zama, Japan. (Anthony Curriera/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Matthew C. Perry's Caeleb Ricafrents carries the ball in the open field Friday, during a football game against Zama at Camp Zama, Japan. (William Takahashi/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Zama's Gabriel Brumage carries the ball in the open field Friday, during a football game against Matthew C. Perry at Camp Zama, Japan. (William Takahashi/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Zama's Keiyl Sasano tries to hang onto the football as Matthew C. Perry's Tyson Moore chases him down Friday, during a football game at Camp Zama, Japan. (Kayla Bodwin/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Matthew C. Perry's Jarell Davis applies the stiff-arm treatment to Zama's Keiyl Sasano, during a football game Friday at Camp Zama, Japan. (Kayla Bodwin/Special to Stars and Stripes)
CAMP ZAMA, Japan – Perhaps Matthew C. Perry can look into making Zama’s Trojans Field its permanent football home.
Jarell Davis and Mick Carreiro each rushed for touchdowns in a game dominated by running, and Perry’s defense racked up its first shutout of the season, beating the Trojans 14-0 Friday, improving the Samurai to 2-0 overall and Division II and keeping Zama winless in two games.
It was the second straight week the Samurai won on Trojans Field, following their 40-18 win last Saturday over Robert D. Edgren. And after an 11-year hiatus from football, Perry now sports a two-game winning streak.
“How’s that, huh? Not bad,” Samurai coach Frank Macias said. “We were hoping to get the shutout. Our defense has much improved since our last game. Two wins back-to-back in Tokyo. I’ll take it.”
But unlike its win over the Eagles in which the Samurai ground game tacked up 335 yards, Perry was held to just more than 200. And though permitting those rushing TDs, the Trojans’ defense was lockdown the rest of the way, Macias said.
“Their defense is tough,” Macias said of Zama. “Tough, tough team.” Carreiro had 102 yards on 20 carries to lead the team and also forced a fumble. Zach Brown forced two fumbles. “He played a whale of a game inside, good to see from a young freshman,” Macias said.
For Zama, the narrative was two words: Missed opportunities. Turnovers and penalties did in the Trojans, who had a pair of touchdowns called back on penalties. They ended the game coming up just short of the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the Samurai 6-yard line.
“We weren’t able to complete drives,” Trojans coach Steven Merrell said. “The defense did a good job of keeping us in the game, but we just couldn’t capitalize on opportunities. This one’s on us.”
The Samurai took early command of the race to see who hosts the Far East Division II title game on Nov. 7, but there are some things they need to work on, Macias said. They played with two starting linemen out with injuries.
“We’re not deep,” he said. “We had some backups who stepped up and played gritty. But we have a lot to work on. We’re not where we need to be.”