YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Most 35-0 games are one-sided. But to coach Sergio Mendoza, Kadena’s romp Saturday at Yokota was as misleading as they get.

Held to two touchdowns in the first half of the interarea game, Kadena was forced into spread formations and a rusty air attack the Panthers hadn’t planned on using — and out of the running game that is their trademark.

"They got us out of our comfort zone. They made us do things we didn’t want to do. That’s a credit to (Yokota coach) Tim (Pujol) and his program," Mendoza said after what amounted to a preview of next month’s Far East Class AA playoff semifinal on Okinawa.

Kadena, paced by Shariff Coleman (122 yards, two TDs, 19 carries) and Thomas McDonald (132 total yards, 2 TDs), handed Yokota its first shutout loss in 10 seasons.

Coleman ran for touchdowns of 1 and 33 yards. McDonald caught a 50-yard TD pass and ran 16 yards for a score. Quarterback Stanley Schrock sneaked 1 yard for a score and tossed the TD pass to McDonald.

Kadena held scoreless a Yokota team that had scored in every regular-season game since losing 16-0 to the Iwakuni Samurai on Nov. 6, 1999, also Yokota’s last regular-season home defeat.

"We found a way in the second half," Mendoza said. "But in the first half, I think he had 12 guys in the box for awhile. They came out in a spread, which I’d not seen before. I think they’ll be tougher on Okinawa. They gave us all we could handle tonight."

Using the spread, Pujol said, was out of necessity; depleted of tight ends due to transfers, he was unable to line up in his traditional full-house backfield sets.

"Our tight-end sets were dead in the water," Pujol said, adding that Saturday’s game was the "perfect night" for he and Mendoza to unveil new things.

Sophomore Stanley Speed started at quarterback in place of DeEric Harvin. Yokota got to Kadena’s 1-yard line on its first possession, but did not score.

Kadena also had problems moving the ball and didn’t score until 8:21 remained in the first half, on McDonald’s TD catch.

"We knew we couldn’t pound the ball with 11 people in the box," Mendoza said of unveiling the spread. "We wanted to save the spread for later."

Kadena improved to 5-0. Yokota fell to 5-3 with its first three-game losing streak since the 1998 season.

"We’ve run into three quality opponents who earned their wins at our expense," Pujol said.

Japan

American School In Japan 53, Kinnick 15: At Tokyo, Alex Busam ran eight times for 94 yards and a touchdown and returned an interception 96 yards, and Chris Kleindl caught two TD passes as ASIJ (5-2) routed the Red Devils (1-7) and kept pace with Zama American in the Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools race.

ASIJ forced five turnovers, including two interceptions by Ryan Christianson and one by Kleindl, and rolled up 620 yards. Hayden Jardine went 7-for-10 for 134 yards and two TDs. Takashi Kennedy scored on his only two carries and Christianson added a touchdown run.

Elijah Gamble had 192 all-purpose yards and a touchdown, and Taylor Myers, who relieved starting quarterback Channing Meyer, ran 44 yards on a quarterback keeper for a score.

Guam

Guam High 27, Southern 0: At Asan, Jason Brunson had 113 yards on 14 carries, including touchdown runs of 35 and 17 yards, D.J. Cruz added a touchdown run and Benjamin Duff plucked a tipped ball out of the air for an interception-return touchdown. Aaron Cosey went 16-for-27 for 147 yards.

The Panthers (5-1), who will play the Dolphins (0-6) in the playoffs next week, got off to a slow start, gaining 69 first-half yards, before racking up 250 in the second half.

In girls volleyball, Guam High’s run at a school-first Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam postseason tournament title came to an end as George Washington won the title for the fourth straight year. GW beat Guam High 25-9, 25-15.

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