For Seoul American and Guam High, winning their season-opening football games was an exercise in scraping off the rust, especially on offense.

Brian Sanders ran for two touchdowns as Guam began its Interscholastic Football League campaign by beating Southern 25-12 at Naval Station’s Blue Jacket Field, seizing first place in the league’s Gadao Division under its new two-division structure.

On South Korea’s Yongsan Garrison, Brent Spencer threw a touchdown pass, Demetrius Johnson ran for a TD, and Willie Brown returned an interception for a touchdown as the Falcons blanked Daegu American 20-0.

Guam High 25, Southern 12: DeAndre Weaver also scored on a 20-yard run, and Ricco Brunner caught a 15-yard TD pass from Aaron Cosey for the Panthers.

"We got the kinks and rust out," coach Brandon Miller said. "It went well, all aspects of the game. We’re a different team now. These kids understand what we’re trying to achieve (and) we’re headed in the right direction."

Guam High’s bend-but-don’t-break defense, paced by Zach Fry, James White and Jacob Wright, did the rest, holding the Dolphins (0-2) to two touchdowns.

It’s the first time Guam High has occupied first place, one division or two; 2003-06 champion George Washington suffered a 36-12 upset against Simon Sanchez, dropping the Geckos to 1-1, a half-game behind the Panthers.

It’s also the first time in four years that Guam High hasn’t opened with either of Guam’s two powerhouses, defending champion Father Duenas Memorial and George Washington. The Panthers host GW on Saturday at Blue Jacket Field.

"That’s the big one," Miller said. "GW’s a good team, but we’re more evenly matched than in the past. We’re not a team you can just roll over now."

Seoul American 20, Daegu American 0: Turnovers set up two scores by the five-time defending Korea champion Falcons, Spencer’s TD pass to Dion Craig thanks to a fumble recovery and Brown’s 69-yard interception return. But the Falcons also lost three fumbles, two on their first two possessions.

"Turnovers hurt us," Falcons coach Julian Harden said, adding that his team was "pleasantly surprised" at Daegu’s toughness despite losing many seniors and Ken Walter’s entire coaching staff from the 2007 Class A runner-up Warriors.

"The score says we beat them good, but only on paper. They moved the ball on offense and slowed us down on defense. We each had opportunities to score and we didn’t."

Spencer was 7-for-12 for 77 yards. Johnson finished with 61 yards on five carries. Joe McLean had nine tackles, three of them sacks, and Trinadai Stansel and Thomas Plummer added seven each, Plummer with an interception.

"We played kind of like we thought we could. We just weren’t sharp," Walter said. "Give it to Seoul. They played really well."

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