(Stars and Stripes)

CAMP ZAMA, Japan – Playing nine-man format football on a field designed for 11-man format can create some high-scoring affairs, and Friday’s DODEA-Pacific Division II season opener was no exception.

Julian Chuckrey accounted for three touchdowns and 149 total yards, P.J. Magno rushed for two TDs and Luke Beck intercepted two passes as Yokota opened defense of its D-II title by outslugging Zama 56-35 Friday at Zama’s Barry Huitema Memorial Field.

“It’s exhausting,” Panthers coach Michael Woodworth said of playing nine-man format on a 100-yard field when it should be 80 yards. “It makes a huge difference. There’s so much open space.”

“We’ll have a lot of those this season,” Zama coach Shawen Smith said. His Trojans and Korea’s Osan Cougars opted to play nine-man this season; any team that faces them also must reduce their on-field contingents to nine.

Yokota’s Corey Carpenter offered an indication of things to come when he returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown. He had 114 yards on 20 carries, rushed for a score and recovered a fumble.

“There were a couple of times in the first half that Zama got within a score, but we kept driving and Luke had those two interceptions,” Woodworth said. The interceptions, Woodworth said, were crucial because the Trojans were driving at the time.

“My hat’s off to Zama. They had only 15 players. We didn’t make as many mistakes as they did, and that was the difference.”

Magno finished with 87 yards on 18 carries. Chuckrey threw a 10-yard TD pass to Jhovanni Mora and ran for two touchdowns.

The Trojans did their best to keep pace for as long as they could, Smith said. Gabriel Simpkins rushed for touchdowns of 75 and 30 yards and caught a 30-yard scoring strike from Thomas Diaz, who also rushed 12 yards for a TD.

“We had some rough spots,” Smith said. “But we definitely have some potential. We showed some flashes from a lot of guys. We’re learning. We’re growing. We have playmakers. We just have to limit our mistakes.”