Perry's Kameron Ramos tries to outrun Yokota's Abraham Ponce. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)
URUMA, Okinawa — Defense ruled when Matthew C. Perry blanked Yokota 13-0 on Sept. 19, avenging a 2024 title game loss to the Panthers.
Now the question is, can Kameron Ramos and the Samurai beat Corey Carpenter and Yokota when it matters the most: Friday’s Far East Division II championship game at the same location where the teams played the last two times they met?
“It’s tough to beat any team you’ve played multiple times” in a season, said A.J. Edwards, coach of a Perry team that went 5-0 this season, the first time the Samurai have gone unbeaten since the program was revived in the 2013 season.
“We have to stay disciplined and not let the moment get too big for us,” Edwards said. “If we can stay focused and execute our assignments, then we have a chance to succeed.”
Perry led Yokota 10-0 after three quarters during the 2024 final before the Panthers scored 22 unanswered points to capture their first D-II crown, to go with Division I titles in 2010 and 2011.
“Coach Woody (Michael Woodworth) has a great program with a lot of good athletes,” Edwards said. “It’ll be a hard-fought game.”
For his part, Woodworth said it’s a matter of which team better takes care of its assignments and makes the fewest errors.
“We will have to execute our gameplan and make fewer mistakes than we did the last time,” Woodworth said. “We have to wrap up and tackle. If we play the way I know we can, we will come away victorious.”
Yokota quarterback Corey Carpenter eyes the goal line as he cuts around left end. (Greg Holladay/Special to Stripes)
Key to the Samurai’s fortunes this season has been Ramos, a senior who doubles as a quarterback and running back and rushed for 11 touchdowns and 853 yards on 49 carries.
Carpenter, a sophomore, has shown ability and poise of somebody two years his senior, Woodworth has said over the course of the season. Junior running backs Quincy Brown, Kysiem Banks and P.J. Magno have also provided key plays for Yokota.
But without line play, none of those moments happen, Woodworth said.
“Our (offensive) line, if they drive the sled, our running backs and quarterback will be able to pound the rock and control the game,” Woodworth said.
Likewise, Edwards said the offense has to function as a unit for seniors Ramos, Kelton Clark and Jeremiah Wardrobe to put points on the board. And the defense must step up the way it did the first time the teams met.
“All our players are key to success,” Edwards said. “We can’t win if we don’t play as a team. Everyone has to be ready to contribute and we have to put it all together Friday.”
Kickoff is at 6 p.m., about a half-hour past sunset at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Gametime forecast calls for clear skies and temperatures in the high 60s.
One thing the Samurai should have is incentive to make it two victories this season over Yokota.
“There’s definitely motivation there,” Edwards said. “The history between our two programs and the number of players we have (who) will be graduating or leaving the program next year; we’re doing it for them. We look forward to a good game.”
