(See standings, scores, honors, rankings and Week 7 outlook at end of story.)
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Kubasaki recorded a first last year when it won the initial Far East Class AA football championship, and the Dragons will set another precedent this season when two girls play.
Seniors wideout Michelle Daniel and lineman Rich-Ann Daisley-West, will suit up for Kubasaki in Friday’s opener at Kadena.
It’s the first time two girls have played varsity football on Okinawa and is believed to be a first within Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Pacific. And, said coach Fred Bales, the two aren’t there to make a statement — beyond that they’re athletes.
“They’re … class individuals who show up every day and work hard,” he said. “They’re just football players, absolutely. They’re two of 70 very dedicated team members.”
Daniel has been in Kubasaki’s football program since her freshman year, playing two seasons for the Kubasaki Shogun in the old split-squad days. She sat out her junior year after reconstructive knee surgery before joining the Dragons this season.
“She’s fast and athletic, runs nice routes and makes catches,” Bales said.
Daniel said she had played flag football in physical education classes while growing up but after arriving at Kubasaki, “I just tried out and I fell in love with it.”
Daisley-West lived most of her life in England, playing soccer but intently watching football highlights on ESPN. Upon arriving at Kubasaki last winter, she told Bales she wanted to play football.
“She just wanted to try it, thought she’d like it, and she has,” Bales said. “She’s physical, fearless, no fear component at all. She’s on our depth chart at punter and placekicker, too.”
Daisley-West, expected to be the soccer goalie next spring, said that because of playing football, “definitely, I feel a lot stronger, more confident.”
Neither girl says she’s felt any resentment from teammates.
“We fully accept them,” senior kicker Zach Schwartz said. “Everybody here is a football player.”
Whether their contributions will push Kubasaki to a second straight Class AA title drive will be learned during the OAC best-of-three series. Game 2 is Oct. 20 at Kubasaki; Game 3, if necessary, will be back at Kadena. Game times are 7 p.m.
The OAC series likely will pit Kubasaki’s thin numbers but big physical size against a Kadena squad deep in players (particularly speedy running backs) but short on interior size.
The question facing Kadena coach Sergio Mendoza is whether his linemen can fend off Dragons big men Jorge Cristobal and Tommy Fair enough to free his backs while slowing Kubasaki backs Michael Bennett and Boomer McCaw.
“The Dragons are strong, a well-coached team. They want to repeat,” Mondoza said.
Bales’ larger squad will have to contend with veteran Panthers backs Manuel Duran and Jeff Morton and elusive newcomer Sean Shattuck.
“I’m not sure there’s an antidote for speed,” Bales said. “But we can control our preparation and performance. If we take care of those things, we can compete. ”
Standings, scores and stats
Japan
DODDS-Japan Football League
W L Pct. PF PA
Yokota 3 0 1.000 80 32
Nile C. Kinnick 2 2 .500 82 68
Robert D. Edgren 2 3 .400 80 105
Zama American 1 3 .250 46 83
Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools
W L Pct. PF PA
Yokota 3 0 1.000 98 25
Nile C. Kinnick 2 1 .667 62 43
Zama American 0 2 .000 21 49
American School In Japan 0 2 .000 14 78
Friday, Oct. 13
Nile C. Kinnick at Yokota, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 14
Zama American at American School In Japan, 1 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20
Nile C. Kinnick at Zama American, 7 p.m.
Yokota at Robert D. Edgren, 7 p.m.
South Korea
W L Pct. PF PA
Seoul American 3 1 .750 140 93
Osan American 2 1 .667 101 81
Taegu American 0 3 .000 26 93
Saturday, Oct. 14
Taegu American at Osan American, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 21
Osan American at Seoul American, 2 p.m.
Okinawa
W L Pct. PF PA
Kadena 0 0 .000 0 0
Kubasaki 0 0 .000 0 0
Friday, Oct. 13
Kubasaki vs. Kadena at McDonald Stadium, Risner Fitness & Sports Complex, Kadena Air Base, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20
Kadena at Kubasaki, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27
Kubasaki vs. Kadena at McDonald Stadium, Risner Fitness & Sports Complex, Kadena Air Base, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Guam
Postseason
Quarterfinals
Friday, Oct. 13
Game 1-Guam High at John F. Kennedy, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 14
Game 2-Southern vs. Simon Sanchez at Ramsey Field, John F. Kennedy High School, Upper Tumon, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday, Oct. 20
Game 3-Game 1 winner vs. George Washington, time and site to be determined.
Saturday, Oct. 21
Game 4-Game 2 winner vs. Father Duenas Memorial, time and site to be determined.
Third-place game
Friday, Oct. 27
Game 5-Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser at higher seed, time and site to be determined.
Bamboo Bowl
Saturday, Oct. 28
Game 6-Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner at higher seed, time and site to be determined.
The Top Ten
The Top Ten teams in the Stars and Stripes’ 2006 Far East high school football ratings, with records through Oct. 7, points and last week’s rating, as compiled by Dave Ornauer of Stars and Stripes sports. Ratings are based primarily on teams’ win-loss records, quality of wins, strength of overall roster, point differential, team and individual statistics, strength of schedule and strength of leagues. Maximum rating is 500 points:
Record Pts Pvs
1. George Washington (Guam) 5-0 468 2
2. Kubasaki (Okinawa) 0-0 464 1
3. Yokota (Japan) 4-0 448 3
4. Kadena (Okinawa) 0-0 436 4
6. Seoul American 3-1 432 5
5. Osan American (S. Korea) 2-1 412 6
7. Father Duenas (Guam) 3-2 400 7
8. Nile C. Kinnick (Japan) 3-2 396 8
9. Simon Sanchez (Guam) 3-2 372 9
10. Robert D. Edgren 3-3 360 —
Week 6 grid honors
Seoul American—David Smalls 421 yards (breaks Pacific game record), 8 touchdowns, 29 carries. David Feliciano 8 tackles, 1 fumble recovery.
Osan American—Will Rapoza 181 all-purpose yards, 2 touchdowns (82-yard kick-return touchdown; 99 yards, 1 touchdown, 11 carries). Carlos Albaladejo 101 yards, 1 touchdown, 7 carries.
Robert D. Edgren—Zach Latimore 105 all-purpose yards, 3 touchdowns. Ethan Blake fumble recovery touchdown in end zone.
Zama American—Kadeem Jones 2 touchdown runs.
Dave Ornauer's Week 7 outlook
Friday
Japan—Yokota 18, Nile C. Kinnick 10.
Guam—John F. Kennedy 14, Guam High 8.
Okinawa—Kubasaki 14, Kadena 13.
Saturday
South Korea—Seoul American 20, Taegu American 7.
Guam—Simon Sanchez 17, Southern 10.
Japan—Zama American 12, American School In Japan 9.
Last week—4-1, .800.
Season—25-6, .806.
Team capsules
Kubasaki Dragons
Camp Foster, Okinawa
2005 record—4-1 overall, 120 points for, 48 points against. Won Okinawa Activities Council best-of-three series 2-1 (beat Kadena 35-3, lost to Kadena 7-6, beat Kadena 13-12). Beat Guam High in Far East Class AA semifinal 32-12. Beat Seoul American in Far East Class AA championship game 34-14.
Head coach—Frederick Bales, second season, 4-1 record overall, one OAC championship, one Far East Class AA championship.
Returning players—15.
Returning starters—6.
Base offense—Multiple.
Base defense—6-man multiple.
Key returners—Michael Bennett, Jr., QB-WR-DB; Zach Schwartz, Sr., PK-P; Boomer McCaw, Sr., RB-LB; Michael Dickerson, Sr., QB-DB; Ricky Jones, Sr., FB-OL-LB; Jorge Cristobal, Sr., OL-DL.
Key newcomers—Clifford Norman, Sr., OL-DL; Quinton Mason, Jr., WR-LB; Rich-Ann Daisley-West, Sr., OL-DL.
Strengths—Good experience. Bales likes what he has in his returning players.
Drawbacks—Some depth at some positions, but no depth at others. Linemen will have to play both ways for most part.
Overview—One key will be replacing running back/linebacker David Motu, who transferred to California. Another will be combating Kadena’s superior depth at skills positions, particularly running back.
Kadena Panthers
Kadena Air Base, Okinawa
2005 record—1-2, 22 points for, 54 points against. Lost Okinawa Activities Council best-of-three series 1-2 (lost 35-3 to Kubasaki, beat Kubasaki 7-6, lost to Kubasaki 13-12).
Head coach—Sergio Mendoza, first season (went 24-13 in four seasons at helm of Kadena Islanders during OAC’s split-squad days, with one OAC championship).
Returning players—14.
Returning starters—7.
Base offense—I.
Base defense—5-3.
Key returners—Jon Robinson, Sr., QB; Alex Mierzejewski, Sr., DE; Nick Berry, Sr., WR; Jeff Morton, Sr., RB-CB; Manuel Duran, Sr., RB-FS; Alan Breen, Sr., OL; Chris Latham, Jr. OL.
Key newcomers—Sean Shattuck, Jr., RB-LB (transfer from Putnam West High in Oklahoma); Jonathan Wright, Jr., QB-RB; Davalle Wright, Sr., WR; Mike Ward, Sr., RB-T.
Strengths—Deep, especially at running back, speed and quickness.
Drawback—Inexperience in the line and in postseason play.
Overview—Key will be for Panthers’ smaller line to overcome Kubasaki’s interior size advantage, make critical blocks to spring Mendoza’s armada of speedy ballcarriers.
