Kubasaki's Ryan Hater rushed for four touchdowns and 258 yards against Kinnick. (Jim Mills/Special to Stripes)

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Ryan Hater scored four times, intercepted two passes and accounted for 273 yards of total offense as Kubasaki won its 12th straight game entering its second consecutive Far East Division I title-game appearance.

The Dragons overcame a penalty- and mistake-filled first half to score 21 second-half points and pull away from Nile C. Kinnick for a 35-13 victory Thursday at newly inaugurated Red Devils Field.

It was the first game for both teams after the one-week layoff due to the government shutdown. It was beneficial, Hater said, in two ways for Kubasaki (5-0): The layoff helped the players heal from injuries and also motivated them to give it their all once back on the field.

“I was feeling fresh after the break,” Hater said. “It was a little needed for us to heal up. I’m just grateful we get to play again. We all are. I think that really drove all of us.”

If numbers tell the tale, Hater’s most certainly did. He rushed 13 times for 258 yards and four TDs, on runs of 62, 84, 30 and 44 yards. He caught a pass for 15 yards. And he also had a TD run of 75 yards called back on a penalty.

“Ryan had a great game, ran like he was running downhill all game,” Dragons coach Tony Alvarado said.

Kubasaki's Ryan Hater snags one of his two interceptions in front of Kinnick's Jesse Brooks. (Cynthia Abel/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Sam Labato dives for a loose football. (Cynthia Abel/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick quarterback Tylar Stevens looks for running room against Kubasaki’s Isaiah Thompson. (Jim Mills/Special to Stripes)

Kubasaki's Ethan Ferch finds running room between Kinnick defenders. (Jim Mills/Special to Stripes)

Kubasaki quarterback Maurice Brown approaches some heavy line traffic. (Jim Mills/Special to Stripes)

Following a first half which the Dragons led but the offense sputtered some due mainly to penalties, Alvarado said he told the players to “stop trying to do too much and focus on making one play at a time.”

“Then two times, back-to-back, they opened holes for Ryan. One-play drives. Ryan Hater gone,” Alvarado said. And once in the clear through the line, “it was like watching him (Hater) run track. He was running so smoothly once he got into the open.”

Ethan Ferch, Hater’s fullback teammate, added 110 yards on 10 attempts. Josiah Good had six tackles and also intercepted two Red Devils passes.

Kinnick (0-5) lost despite a stellar performance by 6-foot-6 receiver Jesse Brooks, who caught eight passes for 120 yards and both Red Devils touchdowns, of 20 and 12 yards. Zeph Miyashiro had 80 yards on three receptions. All on passes from Tylar Stevens, Kinnick’s quarterback.

“Tylar was dealing,” Red Devils assistant coach Gary Wilson said. Isaiah Denson added 65 rushing yards for Kinnick.

“Tackling” was Kinnick’s downfall on defense, Wilson said.

Following the victory, the Dragons get two weeks and a day off before playing Humphreys (3-2) in the D-I championship Oct. 24 at Kubasaki’s Mike Petty Stadium.

Kubasaki's Sho Okuhara looks to accelerate against Kinnick's Koboyo Awesso. (Lauren Casey/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Jesse Brooks and Kubasaki's Ryan Hater go up for the ball. (Lauren Casey/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Jesse Brooks skies for the ball over Kubasaki's Keyonte Lopez and Jayden Rivera. (Annika Farin/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Atsushi Blocton and Keanu Serban get ready to sandwich Kubasaki's Jayden Riverea. (Annika Farin/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Zeph Miyashiro catches a pass in front of Kubasaki's Josiah Good. (Erick Chedd Ricardo/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Atsushi Blocton gets taken down by Kubasaki's Mateo Solano. (Erick Chedd Ricardo/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Jesse Brooks struggles against Kubasaki's Mateo Solano. (Eleah Vincelette/Speciial to Stripes)

Kubasaki's Ryan Hater gets chased by Kinnick's Jesse Brooks. (Eleah Vincelette/Speciial to Stripes)