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On the surface, Saturday’s Singapore-Osan American football game seems Shakespearean, much sound and fury signifying nothing.

Scheduled for an 11:30 a.m. kickoff, the game has no bearing on the host Cougars’ chances at a slot in the Nov. 1 Far East Class A title game at Robert D. Edgren, nor the DODDS-Korea Football League crown.

But ask Cougars coach Duke Allen about how valuable the game is in terms of preparing for down the road, and he’ll say without hesitation the Singapore clash is worth its weight in gold.

"This will be a test of our ability to adapt our offense and defense, and how we react to certain formations we haven’t seen," said Allen, who’s been involved with Osan football since 2005 and is in his first year as head coach.

The game comes during what would have been a bye week for the Cougars (1-2), who are coming off a 21-14 victory over Daegu American and are seeking their third Class A title-game bid in four years.

Also on Saturday, Daegu is at Seoul American at 2 p.m., and Guam High hosts Southern in its Homecoming game at Naval Station’s Blue Jacket Field, at 7 p.m.

On Friday, the Okinawa Activities Council regular season concludes with three-time league champion Kadena at Kubasaki at 7 p.m. In Japan, Nile C. Kinnick travels to Yokota and Robert D. Edgren visits American School In Japan.

This will be the second time Osan will play Singapore, a collection of high schoolers from Singapore American School, sponsored by the Singapore American Community Action Council. On Oct. 21, 2006, the Cougars beat the Falcons 35-6 at Yongsan Garrison.

"Singapore normally brings good-sized kids," Allen said. "They’ll pose a challenge for us."

Allen wanted his team to get more game experience rather than not play, especially with an Oct. 24 home game against Daegu. It will decide who visits Edgren for the Class A title.

"Sometimes, too much wait between games isn’t good. We want to keep the momentum going from our win," he said.

He spoke of that Daegu victory in which Will Rapoza, a hero of Osan’s 2005 Class A title team, ran 14 times for 122 yards, intercepted three passes and had several touchdown-saving tackles.

"Will is finally full speed," Allen said. "He was the player of the game against Daegu."

Helping were kicker Derek Becker, who booted two kickoffs for touchbacks and punted three times inside the 20. Third-unit quarterback Adonte Murry "has shown great poise [and] has taken control of the offense," Allen said.

Augmenting Rapoza in the backfield are Jesse Crockett, Mike Gilliam and freshman Matt Brownell.

One might consider this game an unneeded injury risk, but Allen says the benefits outweigh that possibility.

"There’s no substitute for games, a full-speed game against a quality team," Allen said. "It’s a chance to get better."

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Dave Ornauer has been employed by or assigned to Stars and Stripes Pacific almost continuously since March 5, 1981. He covers interservice and high school sports at DODEA-Pacific schools and manages the Pacific Storm Tracker.

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