TOKYO - Trailing 19-0 after three quarters, Nile C. Kinnick’s football team enjoyed what coach Dan Joley called a “Hollywood moment,” as two badly missed components of the team ran onto the field for the fourth quarter.
Brothers Quinton and Marcel Holden had been in the States for three weeks on emergency leave following their grandfather’s death. The two flew into Narita International Airport on Friday and went straight to American School In Japan’s Mustang Valley, where they were warmly greeted by teammates.
Their arrival was too late to rescue the Red Devils – Kinnick managed only a 15-yard touchdown run by senior Quinton Holden, but nothing else – as the Mustangs prevailed 19-6 in the Red Devils’ final game of the season.
But the emotional boost, and the team’s fourth-quarter performance, gave the Red Devils hope for next season, Joley said.
“Our offense was back in. It was such a great feeling, great to see the brothers back together,” Joley said, meaning the entire team which refers to itself as a band of brothers.
Though the Red Devils finished 4-6 overall and 2-4 in the Kanto Plain on the season, “I told the boys after the game, they were part of something special, the changing of the culture of Kinnick football,” Joley said.
Quinton Holden ran five times for 52 fourth-quarter yards and Marcel Holden recorded six tackles. Marcus Boatwright had 10 tackles and a blocked punt, Dakota Rogers had 11 tackles and freshman Nick Gallagher nine.
ASIJ (4-3 overall, 2-3 Kanto) lost at Kinnick 13-6 on Sept. 14, playing without injured running back Ken Yajima. He was in the lineup for ASIJ on Friday and “it made a big difference,” coach John Seevers said. “Everybody played well, the defense played well and we won the turnover battle big time.”
Wills Wallrapp caught a 6-yard touchdown pass, Henry Wallrapp ran 1 yard for a score and had an interception and a fumble recovery, one of four takeaways for ASIJ. Haru Kent also ran 2 yards for a TD for the Mustangs.