(Stars and Stripes)

AGANA HEIGHTS, Guam – Aaron Johnson and two defensive players came up big for Guam High on Saturday as the Panthers improved to 2-0 on the young Interscholastic Football League season.

Johnson, the Panthers’ senior quarterback, rushed for five touchdowns and passed to Dante Parker for two more, and Juda Alcantara and Brenden Flinn each intercepted two passes as Guam High shut out Okkodo 58-0 at Panthers Field.

“We’re just hoping we can keep it up,” coach Kevin Manns said of his Panthers, who were without two starters on defense. Flinn’s and Alcantara’s interceptions each halted Bulldogs drives, “which is why we shut them out.”

Other defensive stars included Nathan DeWulf, who had nine tackles –

two for losses – and Isaiah Salas, who had two sacks among his six tackles plus a forced fumble.

“They had hurries and pressures all night,” Manns said. “They did a lot of heavy lifting on defense. It was a coming out for our defense. We had some guys who stepped up today. We’re getting better. Everyone’s improving.”

Johnson went 7-for-11 passing for 151 yards and rushed nine times for 168 yards. Parker also ran for a TD and returned a punt for a score.

“We’ll be leaning heavily on all those guys when we go up against George Washington,” Manns said of the Panthers’ next game, at 7 p.m. Saturday at Geckos Field in Mangilao.