Osan freshmen Joseph Denofre and Jordin Chapman are young but are not new to football. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Eighth in a series of preseason previews detailing DODEA-Pacific football teams.
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea – In the wake of a 2024 season truncated due to injuries, Osan becomes the second DODEA-Pacific Division II team that will play a nine-man format football this season.
The Cougars were just a victory away from a spot in the 2023 championship game before opening the 2024 season with two one-sided defeats. With the roster depleted by injuries, the Cougars were forced to forfeit their remaining games.
“It was more disappointing than frustrating,” sophomore tight end Kyle Helphinstine said in an interview Monday with Stripes. The team was showing signs of life, he said, “but the line got hurt and when the line gets hurt, it kind of falls apart.”
The Cougars wanted to play 11-man format, third-year Cougars coach Tyler Greve said, but the numbers just weren’t adding up.
“We just don’t have the bodies,” Greve said of a Cougars team that averages between 15 and 18 at practice. By DODEA rules, a team can play nine-man format with a minimum of 15 players, “but if you go below 18 in 11-man, you’re done,” Greve said.
By going nine-man this time around, “we have a chance to complete the season,” Greve said.
Zama, with 18 players on its roster, is the other DODEA-Pacific team that is playing nine man, which Greve said surprised him, given the numbers they’ve historically had.
By DODEA-Pacific rule, teams must declare at the start of the season whether they play nine- or 11-man format. Teams that play 11 man, Yokota, Robert D. Edgren and Matthew C. Perry, must also use the nine-man format when playing Zama and Osan.
“It goes in cycles,” Greve said regarding available bodies. Asked if D-II should go nine-man format across the board, both he and Trojans coach Shawen Smith said it should be on a case-by-case basis.
“You don’t want to limit people who don’t have to be limited,” Greve said of wanting to play 11 man every season.
“We are having a down year participation-wise and I expect us to rebound in the future,” Smith said. “I do see some of the outlier schools constantly struggling to field full teams (but) I don’t think (D-II) should permanently go to nine-man.”
It's a question of whether the Cougars stay healthy, said coach Tyler Greve. His Cougars will be one of two DODEA-Pacific Division II teams to play nine-man format this season. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Freshman Jordin Chapman takes over at quarterback for the departed Zeus Queen. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
It will once more be a rebuilding task for the Cougars, who have nobody left from the Osan team that went 4-3 in 2023 and were a heartbreaking 23-22 defeat at Yokota away from earning a D-II championship-game berth.
The Cougars return a core of three starters, Helphinstine, senior running back-linebacker Kevin Walsh and senior lineman Zavier Jones.
Two key spots will be filled by freshmen who are not new to football. Jordin Chapman will line up at quarterback and Joseph Denofre at running back. “He’s a good athlete,” Greve said of Chapman.
One sophomore, Lucas Harmon, will play running back and linebacker. “He has such a good motor,” Greve said of Harmon.
Everything will come down to whether the Cougars can avoid injury, Greve said; even a couple of injuries can make things tough for such a small team.
“If we can stay healthy, I feel we can compete,” Greve said. “This team is built on work ethic. These kids work really hard.”
Osan will be the last DODEA-Pacific team to open its season Sept. 13 at Zama.
Osan Cougars
2024 season record — 0-5 overall and DODEA-Pacific Division II, stopped playing after the second game due to lack of available players.
Head coach — Tyler Greve, third season.
Championships — 2005, 2018 DODEA-Pacific Division II titles.
Returning players — 3.
Returning starters — 3.
Key performers — Kyle Helphinstine, So., TE-LB; Kevin Walsh, Sr., RB-LB; Zavier Jones, Sr., OL-DL; Jordin Chapman, Fr., QB; Joshua Go, Fr., OL-LB; Joseph Denofre, Fr., WR-DB; Lucas Harmon, So., RB-LB.
Strengths — Quick growth among linemen, strong work ethic, quarterback and running backs are young but not new to the game.
Drawbacks — Not a great deal of experience. No players return from the team that contended for a D-II finals spot two years ago.
Overview — Rebuilding. Provided they stay healthy, which was the concern when the team suspended operations last season, Greve feels the team can compete. Playing nine-man format will be a different experience.
2025 season schedule
Saturday, Sept. 13
Osan at Zama
Saturday, Sept. 20
Robert D. Edgren at Osan
Friday, Sept. 26
Matthew C. Perry at Osan
Thursday, Oct. 9
Humphreys at Osan
Saturday, Oct. 18
Osan at Yokota
Postseason
Friday, Oct. 24
Championship, teams, time and site to be determined
