Zeke DeLaughter, a senior transfer from South Carolina, is Nile C. Kinnick's new starting football quarterback. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Third in a series of DODEA-Pacific high school football previews.
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan – In his 11 years at the helm of Nile C. Kinnick’s football team, Dan Joley has never failed to find a quarterback he feels can execute plays to his expectations.
That somebody this year is Zeke DeLaughter, a senior who arrived at Yokosuka in August of last year from South Carolina.
The 2020 season was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, but both coach and quarterback believe DeLaughter is ready to accept the challenge of being both signal caller and “coach on the field,” as Joley likes to say.
Nile C. Kinnick foootball team has the numbers, but the question is, how quickly can they regain the game edge after a gap year caused by the coronavirus pandemic? (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
“He is my answer,” Joley said of DeLaughter.
Joley’s list of requisites for his starting quarterback are many: “He must be smart, be a good human being, he needs to be a leader, he must understand the leadership role of being a quarterback and he’s intellectual when it comes to running the offense.”
Joley says he’s spent the last two weeks priming DeLaughter, seeing what he’s capable of running in the Red Devils’ intricate spread-option attack.
Dan Joley, in his 11th season as Nile C. Kinnick head football coach, is optimistic in his upperclassmen who, like he, suffered through a rebuilding 2019 campaign but are primed to reboot the program after a COVID gap year. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
“Zeke has the core of what is fundamental to being quarterback in this offense,” Joley said.
DeLaughter said he shares his coach’s optimism. “I’m confident in the majority of our plays, I feel I can call them with the confidence that our team can run them very well.”
DeLaughter is one of a strong core of skill position players, including senior receivers Daniel Burke and twins Ryo and Kou Nishiyama and junior running backs Brandon Euceda and Kaito DeMoss, dotting the Kinnick roster.
Nile C. Kinnick receiver Ryo Nishiyama hauls in a pass during practice. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
The question hanging over the Red Devils – and every other team in the Pacific – is how long they can regain the game edge that they hope didn’t get lost during the gap year. Kinnick hasn’t played since losing to Humphreys 18-14 on Nov. 1, 2019.
The first test comes Friday when Kinnick visits Zama at Naval Air Facility Atsugi’s Reid Memorial Stadium; kickoff is at 6 p.m.
Nile C. Kinnick junior running back Brandon Euceda bulls through teammates during Tuesday's practice. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Nile C. Kinnick Red Devils
Head coach — Dan Joley, 11th season. Overall record 47-37, DODEA-Japan titles in 2013, 2014 and 2016-18; Kanto Plain title in 2016-18; Far East Division I title in 2018. Returning players — 9. Returning starters — 6. Key performers — Daniel Burke, Sr., PK-WR; Ryo Nishiyama, Sr., WR; Kou Nishiyama, Sr., WR; Michael McIntosh, Sr.; Elijah Tadaki, Sr.; Keith Reed, Sr.; Zeke DeLaughter, Sr., QB. Strengths — Once again, Joley has found solid ability and a strong leader at quarterback in DeLaughter, a transfer from South Carolina. Good speed in the backfield, experience and height in the receiver corps which could cause some mismatches with opposing secondaries. Many sophomores from 2019, now seniors on the roster. Drawbacks — They’re big in the interior, but not as big nor as experienced as the Red Devils were when they reached two straight D-I finals in 2017-18. The individual talent may take a game or two to develop chemistry.
