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Nile C. Kinnick's Derek Ulrich looks for running room against Zama's Chris Jones.

Nile C. Kinnick's Derek Ulrich looks for running room against Zama's Chris Jones. (Lindy Croxton/Special to Stripes)

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan – It was a happy homecoming for Nile C. Kinnick, which scored on all sides of the ball in a 35-7 inter-division win over Zama on Friday at Yokosuka’s Berkey Field.

Senior quarterback Arashi Blocton led the way, rushing for touchdowns of 1 and 16 yards and throwing a 10-yard scoring pass to Jesse Brooks for the Red Devils, who improved to 2-0. The Trojans, playing their first game in three weeks, fell to 1-1.

But the fact that both teams got to play virtually their entire rosters, in a game that meant nothing in the Far East divisional playoff chases, pleased both coaches.

“We dressed the entire team and this allowed us to play all these kids for homecoming,” Kinnick coach Daniel Joley said. “It was a great experience.”

Zama's Andrew Byrd looks for running room against Nile C. Kinnick's Joseph Mauldin.

Zama's Andrew Byrd looks for running room against Nile C. Kinnick's Joseph Mauldin. (Tiffany Mae Okamura/Special to Stripes)

Adrian Santiago-Cruz threw a 56-yard pass to Garrett Allen for Zama's lone touchdown.

Adrian Santiago-Cruz threw a 56-yard pass to Garrett Allen for Zama's lone touchdown. (Lindy Croxton/Special to Stripes)

Zama's Yeriel Padin gets bottled up by Nile C. Kinnick's Jacob Bojorquiz.

Zama's Yeriel Padin gets bottled up by Nile C. Kinnick's Jacob Bojorquiz. (Lindy Croxton/Special to Stripes)

Nile C. Kinnick's Atsushi Blocton dashes upfield against Zama's Zach Waite.

Nile C. Kinnick's Atsushi Blocton dashes upfield against Zama's Zach Waite. (Tiffany Mae Okamura/Special to Stripes)

Nile C. Kinnick's KaVaughn Woodson looks for running room against Zama's Geovanni Joell.

Nile C. Kinnick's KaVaughn Woodson looks for running room against Zama's Geovanni Joell. (Tiffany Mae Okamura/Special to Stripes)

Nile C. Kinnick's Derek Ulrich rushed for a 62-yard touchdown against the Trojans.

Nile C. Kinnick's Derek Ulrich rushed for a 62-yard touchdown against the Trojans. (Erick Chedd Ricardo/Special to Stripes)

Derek Ulrich rushed 62 yards for a touchdown, Koboyo Awesso booted a 45-yard field goal and the Red Devils scored two safeties on defense.

The Trojans’ lone points came in the second half, on a 56-yard touchdown pass from Adrian Santiago-Cruz to Garrett Allen.

“This was exactly what we needed,” Trojans coach Scott Bolin said. “This was good to get us ready (for the rest of the season) after three weeks off.”

The Trojans next travel to Yokota for Division II battle, while the Red Devils visit Kadena in what could be a Division I final preview; both games kick off at 6 p.m. Friday.

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Dave Ornauer has been employed by or assigned to Stars and Stripes Pacific almost continuously since March 5, 1981. He covers interservice and high school sports at DODEA-Pacific schools and manages the Pacific Storm Tracker.

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