American School In Japan Mustangs receiver Charlie Seno, right, battles for the ball with Nile C. Kinnick Red Devils defensive back Dustin Kimbrell during Saturday's Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools football game in Tokyo. ASIJ won 35-6. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
American School In Japan Mustangs receiver Charlie Seno, right, battles for the ball with Nile C. Kinnick Red Devils defensive back Dustin Kimbrell during Saturday's Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools football game in Tokyo. ASIJ won 35-6. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
American School In Japan Mustangs receiver Charlie Seno can't find the handle on the ball in the end zone against Nile C. Kinnick Red Devils during Saturday's Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools football game in Tokyo. ASIJ won 35-6. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
TOKYO – Seniors ruled the day as American School In Japan enjoyed a happy homecoming, routing Nile C. Kinnick, 35-6, on Saturday at Mustang Valley behind running back Haru Kent and quarterback Hayden Jardine.
Kent ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries and Jardine scored TDs on offense and defense for ASIJ (5-1), which has now beaten every team it’s played this season and took another step toward at least a share of the Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools title.
The game’s last 16 minutes were played with a running clock.
“Our defense has come so far this year,” said coach Craig Karnitz of an ASIJ defense that kept the Red Devils (2-5) out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter and forced four turnovers. “Best it’s played in three or four years. It bodes well for the rest of the season.”
Kent accounted for 119 yards of total offense. Jardine went 6-for-14 for 96 yards and had 166 all-purpose yards on 23 touches, scoring on a 1-yard sneak and a 34-yard interception return. Ken Yajima added a touchdown run and totaled 141 yards on 17 touches.
Despite the defense forcing three first-half turnovers, Kinnick couldn’t breach the end zone until 2 minutes, 54 seconds remained, when Aaron Stravers ran around right end for a 6-yard touchdown run.
Dustin Kimbrell had 102 yards on 11 carries, Stravers finished with 52 yards on 16 attempts and Alex Banks had a fumble recovery and an interception for Kinnick.
