Courtney-Hansen quarterback Thomas Aragon (18) is sacked by Schwab defender Kyle Spencer (83) during Saturday's Okinawa Football League game at Courtney Bowl, Camp Courtney, Okinawa. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
Courtney-Hansen quarterback Thomas Aragon (18) is sacked by Schwab defender Kyle Spencer (83) during Saturday's Okinawa Football League game at Courtney Bowl, Camp Courtney, Okinawa. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
Courtney-Hansen receiver Anthony Coronado snags a pass in front of Schwab Panthers defender Darryl Davis (81) during Saturday's game. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
CAMP COURTNEY, Okinawa — Say what you want about the battle between Kadena and Foster-Futenma for first place. The best rivalry in the Okinawa Football League appears to be Courtney-Hansen and Schwab.
The northern-camp teams, clinging to life in the OFL playoff chase, on Saturday played their second overtime game in as many meetings this season. This time, Schwab came away victorious 20-13; Courtney-Hansen won the season opener 20-14 on Sept. 25.
Kadena took possession of first place by a half-game over Foster-Futenma, scoring 30 second-half points in a 36-2 rout over outmanned Kinser.
Schwab 20, Courtney-Hansen 13 (OT)
Rico Randall rambled 7 yards for a touchdown on second down in the Panthers’ overtime possession, then sacked Titans quarterback Thomas Aragon on fourth down to prevent Courtney-Hansen from answering.
Randall’s big plays gave Schwab coach Robert Bufkin the season series by one point against his former mentor, Titans coach Tony Bowman, under whom he was defensive coordinator last season when Courtney-Hansen played in the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League.
“We’ve played two hard games, and after 120 minutes and two overtimes, there’s a one-point difference between us,” Bowman said. “Bob and I have coached together and we’re great friends.”
“The two northern camps have always been historically close, like two close cities, and the teams are evenly matched,” Bufkin said. “We play hard, they play hard. Our guys dug deep down and did what they had to do.”
While the Titans (2-3) were merely looking to lock up one of the league’s four playoff berths, the Panthers (2-3) “were fighting for their playoff lives,” Bowman said.
On the first series, it looked like a continuation of Schwab’s season-opening defeat, as the Titans’ William “Bull” Caton, who had 160 yards on 27 carries, scored an 8-yard touchdown.
Schwab answered with a 10-play, 57-yard drive in the second quarter, capped by Derrell Hawthorne’s 3-yard TD run. The Panthers ran off another long drive (11 plays, 67 yards), capped by Juventino Camarrillo’s 11-yard TD strike to Blake McClendon.
With time running out, Caton struck again, his 1-yard touchdown run with 1:05 left in regulation ending a nine-play, 71-yard drive.
Hawthorne ran 22 times for 88 yards and Randall 16 for 77. Camarrillo was 8-for-17 for 92 yards. McClendon caught three passes for 51 yards.
Randall also recovered a fumble, one of six turnovers forced by Schwab. Yean Diaz blocked a punt and recovered a fumble and Jermaine Parlow intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble.
Aragon was 9-for-21 for 119 yards for the Titans, who forced three turnovers.
Kadena 36, Kinser 2
After a slow start, the Dragons took advantage of a tiring Knights squad that fielded only 21 players because of injuries. They finished with 17, and the referees used a running clock in the fourth quarter after the Dragons took control of the contest.
P.J. Robinson ran nine times for 127 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown keeper, and was 5-for-11 for 54 yards, including a 15-yard TD strike to Sam Wicks. Trent Beavers had 72 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, Branden McMorris rushed for 75 yards and a TD on 14 carries and Kelly Morrison added a 1-yard touchdown run.
Chris McIver intercepted two passes by Kinser quarterback John Hooks. The Knights were outgained 309 to minus-8 and had no first downs. Deonte Harper had 114 all-purpose yards and Tyrun Dacres had two sacks.
