DODDS-Pacific football teams took their lumps Friday against Japan international and Guam public school counterparts.

Nile C. Kinnick lost its home opener 15-0 to the American School In Japan, which won hadn’t won a Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools game the past two seasons.

Guam High, with half its team suffering from the flu and having had only two practices because of the short Labor Day week, was humbled 35-6 by two-time defending island champion George Washington.

JapanAmerican School In Japan 15, Nile C. Kinnick 0: At Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, the Mustangs (1-0) took full advantage of a fumble recovery in the first half and a botched second-half punt, each deep in Red Devils territory.

Quarterback Shawn Seevers scored twice on bootleg options and ASIJ added a field goal.

“Too many mistakes,” coach Bill Schofield said after Kinnick lost to ASIJ for the first time since Sept. 13, 2002, also at Yokosuka. The Mustangs had lost 12 straight Kanto Plain games, last winning one in November 2002 over Zama American.

Lorenzo Abernathy ran 18 times for 108 yards and caught a pass for 10 and quarterback Jeff Galang went 5-for-13 for 43 yards for Kinnick.

“It’s important for the kids to feel the loss and come out and work hard in practice Monday and hopefully the focus will be there,” said Schofield, whose Red Devils travel to Yokota Air Base on Friday to face the six-time defending Kanto and Japan Football League champion Yokota Panthers.

GuamGeorge Washington 35, Guam High 6: At Mangilao, Guam, Casey Cruz caught two touchdown passes and Mychal Borja and Brandon Chandler combined for 271 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries as the Geckos’ defense held the Panthers (0-2) to 103 yards and only 19 in the second half.

The Panthers have lost their first two games to the island’s top two teams, including a 29-6 season-opening loss to Father Duenas Memorial on Sept. 3, but coach Tom Hildreth feels the Panthers can do better.

“This team can be a good team,” Hildreth said. “We need more discipline, we need the team to get well. Two days of practice isn’t enough to prepare for any team, let alone the defending island champion.”

Guam High’s points came on a 42-yard interception return by Zach Tyminiski in the first quarter. Tommy Strahan recorded eight tackles, Ashton Adams added seven and R.J. Yurko contributed six.

The Panthers next travel to Ramsey Field at John F. Kennedy High School in Upper Tumon to play Simon Sanchez at 10 a.m. next Saturday.

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