Osan American can start booking those airline reservations for Misawa.

Carlos Albaladejo and Will Rapoza each scored three touchdowns and the Cougars on Saturday beat Taegu American 40-0 for the second time this season, ensuring their return to the Far East Class A championship game.

“We’re excited,” coach Tony Alvarado said of heading to Misawa Air Base in northern Japan on Nov. 4 to visit the Robert D. Edgren Eagles.

On Nov. 5, 2005, the Cougars rallied from a 14-0 deficit to capture the Class A title 16-14 against Edgren at Osan Air Base.

“It’s a nice feeling to know that we’ve locked up a Class A bid two years in a row. The kids are excited,” Alvarado said. “We can’t wait to go up there.”

At Tokyo, American School In Japan won for the first time in four tries, edging Zama American 3-0 at Mustang Valley to cap a happy homecoming.

Osan American 40, Taegu American 0

The “Carlos and Will Show” led the way once more for the Cougars at Osan Air Base. But Alvarado did step out of character with three passing plays by quarterback Patrick Thompson — two of which went for touchdowns to Rapoza.

“We tried to change things up a little bit,” Alvarado said. “It just so happens Will caught two for touchdowns.”

In addition to two catches for 124 yards, Rapoza rushed for 51 yards and a TD on eight carries, giving him 432 yards on 40 carries for the season. Albaladejo rambled for 118 yards on eight carries, increasing his season totals to 533 yards and seven touchdowns on 33 tries. Albaladejo also returned a punt 85 yards, giving him 203 all-purpose yards.

“Carlos and Will, they stepped up big today,” Alvarado said.

The Warriors did move the ball and had a handful of scoring chances but “we kept shooting ourselves in the foot” with penalties and turnovers, Taegu offensive coordinator Roy Grammer said. Taegu (0-4) also lost starters Sam Davis, Daniel Pressley and Eddie Ward to injuries.

Angel Hickman ran six times for 39 yards and was 2-for-6 for 60 yards passing. Randall Daniels had 38 yards on six carries, a catch for 40 yards, seven tackles and a kick block. Pressley added 44 yards on five carries and a kick return for 45 yards.

As for the business of defending its Class A title, Alvarado feels his Cougars (3-1) are better prepared than the young squad that took the field a season ago.

“We’re getting ready. We’re practicing hard. We’ll be pumped up. Last year, we were a young team. This year, we’re a year older, a year wiser and we have a win over Seoul American under our belt. I know Edgren will want some payback. We’ll be ready.”

American School In Japan 3, Zama American 0

Jason Cook’s 39-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter provided all the points needed for the Mustangs (1-3), who hung on dearly as the Trojans (1-4) fumbled away the ball four times deep in ASIJ territory and had a touchdown called back on a clipping penalty.

All that despite Kadeem Jones rushing for 200 yards and Aaron Tabor for 60 as the Trojans amassed a little over 300 yards in the contest.

“It was like Christmas at Zama. We just give games away,” coach Victor Rivera said.

“At the most critical times, when you have to execute correctly, we didn’t execute. We didn’t take care of the football.”

Rivera called the Mustangs “vastly improved” over their first three games of the season, all blowout losses. “My hat’s off to their coaches for preparing that team,” he said.

“We needed one,” ASIJ coach John Seevers said about his players overcing star senior Rafai Eddy’s loss to a broken collarbone in the first quarter. “The kids prevailed.”

Pacific prep football

DODDS-Japan League

W L Pct. PF PA

x-Yokota 4 0 1.000 109 60

Nile C. Kinnick 2 3 .400 110 97

Robert D. Edgren 2 3 .400 80 105

Zama American 1 3 .250 46 83

x-clinched eighth straight JFL title, host rights to Far East Class AA semifinal on Nov. 4.

Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools

W L Pct. PF PA

x-Yokota 4 0 1.000 127 53

Nile C. Kinnick 2 2 .500 90 72

Amer. School In Japan 1 2 .333 17 78

Zama American 0 3 .000 21 52

x-clinched eighth straight Kanto title

Friday’s game

Yokota 29, Nile C. Kinnick 28

Saturday’s game

ASIJ 3, Zama American 0

Friday, Oct. 20

Kinnick at Zama, 7 p.m.

Yokota at Edgren, 7 p.m.

South Korea

W L Pct. PF PA

Seoul American 3 1 .750 140 93

x-Osan American 3 1 .750 141 81

Taegu American 0 4 .000 26 133

x-clinched DODDS-Korea berth in Far East Class A title game Nov. 4 at Robert D. Edgren, Japan.

Saturday’s game

Osan American 40, Taegu American 0

Saturday, Oct. 21

Singapore Oilers at Seoul American, 11 a.m.

Singapore Vikings vs. Osan American at Falcon Field, Seoul American H.S., South Post, Yongsan Garrison, 2 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 25

Osan American at Seoul American, 4 p.m.

Guam

Postseason

Quarterfinals

Friday, Oct. 13

Game 1-Guam High 26, John F. Kennedy 0

Saturday, Oct. 14

Game 2-Simon Sanchez 22, Southern 6

Semifinals

Friday, Oct. 20

Game 3-Guam High vs. George Washington, time and site to be determined.

Saturday, Oct. 21

Game 4-Simon Sanchez vs. Father Duenas, time and site TBD.

Third-place game

Friday, Oct. 27

Game 5-Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser at higher seed, time and site TBD.

Bamboo Bowl

Saturday, Oct. 28

Game 6-Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner at higher seed, time and site TBD.

Migrated