YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Ten years with Tim Pujol at the helm, 10 DODDS-Japan Football League titles for the Yokota Panthers.
Despite losing key offensive weapons Tony Presnell and Derick Seward to injury, the Panthers got another big passing game from DeEric Harvin and Andy Silva, romping 42-19 over Nile C. Kinnick on Friday at Yokota’s Bonk Field.
"How about that, huh?" Pujol said. "Now, we just have to get healthy."
Presnell was limited to kick and punt duties after returning the opening kick 95 yards for a touchdown. Seward ran an interception 95 yards for a score and totaled 194 all-purpose yards before leaving with a calf cramp.
But other Panthers, such as Harvin, Silva, backup quarterback Sam Jones and Rainey Daley, stepped up to make key plays and keep drives alive.
For that reason, Pujol called the title-clinching victory "really special. The score didn’t indicate how close the game was. Kinnick smelled blood in the water. I’m really proud of the way the guys stepped up."
Yokota (6-1) will host Seoul American in a Far East Class AA semifinal on Nov. 1. The winner of that game hosts the winner of the Guam High at Kadena semifinal in the Class AA title game Nov. 8.
Harvin had his second big passing game in as many weeks, going 10-for-13 for 171 yards, including TD passes of 45, 4 and 60 yards to Silva.
"It’s a reminder to the kids and me why we have to work on our passing game," Pujol said. "When you don’t have [Presnell and Seward] to go to, you have to rethink your game plan a bit."
Kinnick (1-5) got within nine points in the third quarter, but Yokota scored the last 14 points of the contest.
Tyree Hunt ran for 81 yards and a score on 13 carries.
"If they [Yokota] stick with their bread and butter, if they keep their guys healthy, they’ll go far" in the Class AA playoffs, Kinnick coach Tom Bell said.
Edgren 34, ASIJ 14: At Tokyo, Eagles speedster Johnell Alexander burned the Mustangs for touchdown runs of 80 and 50 yards en route to amassing 150 yards on 18 carries.
Drew Holder caught an 8-yard TD pass from Zach Davis and ran 10 yards for a score for the Eagles (4-2), who avenged a 14-13 home loss to ASIJ on Sept. 20.
Kadena 28, Kubasaki 0: At Camp Foster, Okinawa, Jordan Ray, normally a lineman, got into the scoring act for the Panthers (4-0), bulling for touchdown runs of 1 and 2 yards.
"It’s definitely a dream for a lineman," Ray said.
Stan Schrock rolled up 134 all-purpose yards for Kadena, scoring on a 1-yard sneak and hitting Aaron Ahner from 25 yards out with a TD pass. Schrock ran six times for 52 yards, caught a 15-yard pass, and was 2-for-2 for 37 yards passing. Brandon Harris added 94 all-purpose yards.
Marquette Warren ran nine times for 48 yards for the Dragons (1-4 overall, 0-4 league), who were outscored 84-0 by the Panthers this season.
Kubasaki got only as far as Kadena’s 41-yard line.