Perry's Ethan Mercado wrestles ballcarrier Adrian Isaac-Otero down during a tackling drill. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Third in a series of preseason previews detailing DODEA-Pacific football teams.
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan – Things looked mighty good for Matthew C. Perry through much of their final football game a season ago.
The Samurai led 10-0 over Yokota in the Far East Division II football final Oct. 25 on their home field. Just one quarter away from their first championship since 2016.
“Then, it went downhill,” Perry’s Kameron Ramos recalled.
Panthers receiver Kicoh Guenther made a circus catch in the corner of the end zone over a gaggle of Perry defenders. That got Yokota on the board and it was all Panthers from there, with the final score 22-10.
“When they (Yokota) got their first touchdown, you could feel the energy go out of the team,” said Ramos, a returning senior running back-linebacker. “We kind of lost it.”
So, where to from here?
Perry has plenty of motivation, not to mention the speed and quickness of Ramos, senior quarterback Kelton Clark, junior receiver Jerry Cordero and junior running back Ethan Mercado.
Size-wise is a different story. There’s some bulk in the interior, but not a lot. And they have some big shoes to fill, including tight end-defensive end Xander Grantham, quarterback Jordan Burford and kicker Preston Ramirez. Each were key cogs in the Samurai’s run to the title game.
“I expect to win,” Ramos said, adding that he and nine other returners want to at least return to the championship game.
“It’s my senior season. I want to bring the banner home. We were so close last year,” he said.
The Samurai also have a new head coach. A.J. Edwards, an assistant under previous coach Daniel Burns and also Perry’s baseball coach, assumes the Samurai’s helm and exudes the same optimism as his players.
“They’re hungry. A lot of kids remember from last year,” Edwards said.
Joshua Rodriguez is one of a handful of seniors on a sophomore- and junior-heavy Samurai football roster. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Senior Kameron Ramos remembers well how the 2024 D-II football final got away from the Samurai and wants one more crack at the Far East title. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Junior Ethan Mercado takes over placekicking duties from Preston Ramirez, who left Perry after his sophomore year. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
It will take more than a motivated squad to get things done. This Perry team is sophomore- and junior-heavy; there’ll be something of a learning curve.
And the schedule – still a work in progress – will feature six regular-season games, at least one against each of their DODEA-Japan rivals, plus Osan of Korea.
“We have to find our way and grow, but anything’s possible,” Edwards said. “It’s a rebuild. But we’re going to be competitive.”
Perry opens at home Aug. 30 against Sotoku, a Japanese team from Hiroshima.
Matthew C. Perry Samurai
2024 season record — 4-2 overall, lost 22-10 to Yokota on Oct. 25 in D-II championship game.
Head coach — A.J. Edwards, first season (served as assistant coach previously; replaces Daniel Burns).
Championship — 2016 Far East Division II (lost in four other appearances, 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2024).
Returning players — 10.
Returning starters — 10.
Key performers — Kameron Ramos, Sr., QB-RB-LB; Kelton Clark, Sr., QB; Jerry Cordero, Jr., DB-WR; Tristan Mercado, Sr., L; Ethan Mercado, Jr., DB-RB; Jayden DeAsis, Jr., LB
Strengths — Speed, quickness. Motivation to atone for last October’s D-II championship loss.
Drawbacks — Lack of depth, lack of size. Losing three key elements from the 2024 team, kicker Preston Ramirez, TE-DE Xander Grantham and QB Jordan Burford, will hurt.
Overview — Rebuilding, but with time and game experience, the Samurai are hoping to become competitive, and that motivation will help carry them.
2025 season schedule
Saturday, Aug. 30
Sotoku at Matthew C. Perry
Remainder of schedule to be announced.
