Kadena's Adam Santana, Richard Gantz and Braylon Stephens go through a dive tackle drill. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Second in a series of preseason previews detailing DODEA-Pacific football teams.
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa – Outfitted in a helmet and pads for the first time since practice began Aug. 4, Braylon Stephens confessed to being a tad hot and quite nervous.
The senior lineman transferred over the summer from Matthew C. Perry, where he and the Samurai finished second in the Far East Division II football title chase. Now, he’s joined a Kadena team that also finished second, in last October’s Division I final, 13-0 at Kubasaki.
“I’m excited for the season,” Stephens said Friday, minutes before he and the Panthers took the field for their first full-contact practice session.
“It’s hot, though. I’ve gotten used to it the first few days. I was nervous going up to Division I and I’m nervous for today, but I’m always nervous before hitting,” Stephens said.
He’ll be facing a new set of foes at the D-I level. In addition to battling the defending D-I champion Dragons two times, Kadena also takes on Nile C. Kinnick of Japan and Humphreys of South Korea twice each.
Kadena’s season opens Aug. 29 at home against the Red Devils, a week before facing off with what senior linebacker Michael Smith calls the Panthers’ staunchest rival.
“Kubasaki is the biggest enemy that we have to take down,” Smith said. “We have to step up the intensity, and (the new players) need to learn not to like them.”
Kadena's A.J. Webster and Nathaniel Bahena engage in a tackle drill. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Sergio Mendoza is entering his 20th season at Kadena's helm and is the dean of DODEA-Pacific coaches. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena junior running back Sean Cupp takes a handoff from assistant coach Frank Macias during Monday's practice. Cupp is the son of Kadena's 18th Wing Chief Master Sgt. Will Cupp, a Panthers assistant coach. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena's Matthew Stroud takes a handoff from assistant coach Frank Macias during Monday's practice. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena senior Michael Smith runs the gauntlet of players trying to take the ball from him during Monday's practice. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena's Derryck Miller takes a handoff from assistant coach Frank Macias during Monday's practice. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
It will be a Kadena team that’s younger than Panthers squads of past years, junior-heavy as opposed to senior-heavy.
A.J. Webster is one of those juniors, in his second season with the Panthers and will play running back and defensive back. Carson Kenderdine will line up at running back and linebacker, Farid Gonmandakoye, Dylan O’Neil and Daniel Dowadu at receiver and defensive back and Troy Hill in the interior.
But Kadena’s roster does boast a handful of seniors, including running back Hajime Reed to go along with Smith and Stephens and lineman Richard Gantz.
“It’s good to have somebody with his (Reed’s) heart and character,” said Sergio Mendoza, entering his 20th season at Kadena’s helm and the dean of Pacific coaches. “It’s contagious and can spread to the rest of the team.”
As for Stephens, “he has the potential to be an impact player,” Mendoza said. “He’ll be a nice fit into the program.”
Some of the juniors return from a Kadena team that lost three times to Kubasaki but won its other four games last season. Troy Hill, a junior who’ll line up on both sides of the ball, “is definitely an impact player,” Mendoza said.
“We’re younger. We’re rebuilding,” Mendoza said. “But we are excited about the possibilities.”
Kadena Panthers
2024 season record — 4-3 overall.
Head coach — Sergio Mendoza, 20th season. 90-23 overall, Pacific-record eight D-I titles (2007, ’09-’10, ’14-’15, ’17, ’19, ’23).
Returning players — 11.
Returning starters — 7.
Key performers — A.J. Webster, Jr., RR; Hajime Reed, Sr., CB-WR-RB; Richard Gantz, Jr., L; Michael Smith, Sr., DB-LB; Carson Kenderdine, Jr., RB-TE-L; Braylon Stephens, Sr., L (transferred from Matthew C. Perry); Adam Santana, Jr., L; Farid Gonmandakoye, Jr., WR-DB; Daniel Dowadu, Jr., DB-WR; Sean Cupp, Jr., RB-LB; Troy Hill, Jr., OL-DT; Dylan O’Neil, Jr., RB-DB.
Strengths — Speed, some size, positive vibe. PCS Plane helped with the arrival of Cupp and Stephens, among others.
Drawbacks — Younger than in past years. Junior-heavy as opposed to senior-heavy a year ago.
Overview — Rebuilding, though Mendoza said there’s plenty of potential and possibilities. If things fall together, Panthers could contend for island and Far East titles.
2025 season schedule
Friday, Aug. 29
Nile C. Kinnick at Kadena
Friday, Sept. 5
Kubasaki at Kadena
Friday, Sept. 12
Kadena at Nile C. Kinnick
Saturday, Sept. 20
Humphreys at Kadena
Saturday, Sept. 27
Kadena at Humphreys
Friday, Oct. 3
Kadena at Kubasaki
Postseason
Saturday, Oct. 25
Championship, pairing and site to be determined.
Friday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 18 is a makeup weekend in case of inclement weather or other difficulties.
