Despite 20-0 and 47-0 victories in Seoul American’s only games this season, Falcons coach Julian Harden insists his team has been fortunate to win both contests.

“It has not been easy for us,” he said, pointing out that Seoul’s foes were done in by turnovers and penalties.

The Falcons, who celebrate homecoming this week, can extend their winning streak to 20 games on Saturday at home against Osan American, which lost by 20 on Sept. 18 in the league opener.

Seoul, aiming for its fourth straight league title, has the second-longest winning streak in the Pacific.

Harden is not expecting an easy game.

“Osan is going to come prepared for us,” Harden said. “I know they won’t be the same team that faced us the first time. I expect a different Osan team to come here to pound us. Yesterday was yesterday. It’s a new day.”

Said Osan coach Tony Alvarado: “It’s Seoul’s homecoming and we want to spoil it.”

In Seoul's 47-0 victory over Taegu last Saturday, the Warriors surprised the Falcons by recovering an onside kickoff to open the game. Taegu had three drives short-circuited by penalties.

A flurry of penalties and three Osan fumbles made matters easier for the Falcons last month.

“When we sit back and review tapes, I point out places where anybody got tired, missed a block, a tackle, a penalty, a pass they could have caught,” Harden said. “Any lapse at all could be costly. And you never know when it’s going to be.”

Alvarado has emphasized the same thing to his players in this week’s practices.

“We’ve stressed perfection,” he said. “No mistakes. No penalties. … If a player takes a play off, [his opponent] could make the tackle and stop the play.”

Since their first meeting, Osan’s Terry Stephens ran for a Korea-record 327 yards and four TDs in a 26-0 win over Taegu on Oct. 2.

Harden said he doesn’t want his team to focus solely on Stephens.

“I don’t know if we can ever stop him, but if we can slow him down, not [let him] get that extra yard, keep him out of his rhythm, not change direction, not give him that sideline where he has good speed,” Harden said. “We’re not going to be falling asleep at the wheel, assuming they won’t pass.”

Alvarado indicated Falcons junior quarterback Bruce Voelker is his greatest worry. Voelker is 17-for-21 for 346 yards and six TDs this season — including 11-for-11 for 247 yards and five scores against Taegu.

“We have to put pressure on him,” Alvarado said.

Players on Seoul’s line are “very good at staying at home and giving their quarterback all day to pick and choose and decide where he wants to throw. If we pressure Bruce, it will go our way. If he has all day to throw, watch out.”

Standings

Japan Football League

W L Pct. PF PA

Yokota 4 0 1.000 138 13

Nile C. Kinnick 3 1 .750 98 33

Robert D. Edgren 1 3 .250 41 137

Zama American 0 4 .000 18 112

Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools

W L Pct. PF PA

Yokota 3 0 1.000 96 6

Nile C. Kinnick 3 1 .750 114 13

Zama American 1 3 .250 28 116

ASIJ 0 3 .000 18 121

Okinawa Activities Council

W L Pct. PF PA

Kadena Islanders 4 0 1.000 111 41

Kubasaki Samurai 3 1 .750 81 75

Kadena Buccaneers 1 3 .250 50 88

Kubasaki Shogun 0 4 .000 40 78

Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam

W L Pct. PF PA

x-Fr. Duenas Memorial 5 0 1.000 165 32

Simon Sanchez 3 2 .600 118 58

George Washington 3 2 .600 106 28

John F. Kennedy 3 2 .600 123 58

Guam High 2 3 .400 98 86

Southern 2 3 .400 16 114

Guam Int’l Christian Acad. 0 6 .000 40 280

x-clinched regular-season championship, first-round bye in island playoffs.

Korean-American Interscholastic Activities

W L Pct. PF PA

Seoul American 2 0 1.000 67 0

Osan American 1 1 .500 26 20

Taegu American 0 1 .000 0 73

The Top Ten

The Top Ten teams in the Stars and Stripes’ 2004 Far East high school football ratings, with records through Oct. 12, 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. Yokota (Japan) 5-0 460 1

2. Father Duenas Mem. (Guam) 5-0 452 2

3. Kadena Islanders (Okinawa) 4-0 444 3

4. Seoul American 2-0 424 4

5. Nile C. Kinnick (Japan) 4-1 404 5

6. Kubasaki Samurai (Okinawa) 3-1 392 6

7. John F. Kennedy (Guam) 3-2 384 9

8. Simon Sanchez (Guam) 3-2 380 7

9. George Washington (Guam) 3-2 372 —

10. Osan American (S. Korea) 1-1 360 —

Dave Ornauer's Week 7 outlook

Friday, Oct. 15

Yokota 22, Zama American 6

Kadena Islanders 24, Kubasaki Shogun 8

Kubasaki Samurai 18, Kadena Buccaneers 16

Saturday, Oct. 16

Robert D. Edgren 17, American School In Japan 13

Seoul American 20, Osan American 10

Father Duenas Memorial 23, George Washington 9

John F. Kennedy 21, Southern 8

Simon Sanchez 25, Guam High 11

Last week: 7-1, .875.

Season: 33-7, .825.

Week 6 grid honors

Kadena Buccaneers — Tyler Schmidt 179 yards total offense, two TDs (9-for-23, 134 yards, two TDs; 45 yards, 10 carries). Darnell Womach 106 all-purpose yards, (42 yards, four returns). Jacob Love 41 yards, 2 TDs.

Kadena Islanders — Stcyr Madayag 166 yards total offense, 3 TDs (5-for-10, 167 yards, two TDs). Arnold Tillman 121 all-purpose yards, 1 TD (100 yards on two catches) Keith Loving 185 all-purpose yards, 1 TD, one fumble recovery.

Kubasaki Samurai — Justin Daugherty 153 yards total offense, two TDs (7-for-13, 142 yards, TDs; 11 yards, two carries). Jon Keith 45-yard interception-return touchdown, one sack. David Miller 12-yard punt-return touchdown, one sack.

Kubasaki Shogun — Keith Sturdivent 140 all-purpose yards (97 yards, 15 carries; 43 yards, one return). Brandon Murphy one fumble recovery, one sack.

Yokota — Shamarr Howell 158 all-purpose yards, three TDs (111 yards, 2 TDs, five carries); one interception. Jamal McNeill 90 yards, two interception returns. Chris Roach 102 yards, one touchdown, eight carries.

Nile C. Kinnick — Leonard Lynce 195 yards, four TDs, 10 carries. Adam Krievs seven tackles, one fumble recovery. Brandon Taylor 35-yard fumble-return TD.

Seoul American — Bruce Voelker 11-for-11, 247 yards, five TDs. Jeremy Christopher 115 yards, two TDs, four catches. Mike Goodman 87 yards, one TD, five catches.

Taegu American — Kory Grammer 15 tackles, one forced fumble. Mychal McGee nine tackles, one fumble recovery. Lance Shirley one interception, one fumble recovery.

Guam High — Doug Bloom 6-for-17, 53 yards, one TD.

Migrated