Sophomore Corey Carpenter played a variety of positions for Yokota and led the Panthers to a second straight D-II title. (Greg Holladay/Special to Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – Sometimes, the genesis of a football team’s championship happens in its very first game.
Yokota won its opener 56-35 on a steamy Aug. 29 evening at Zama. But it was one play made by sophomore Corey Carpenter during that game that not only led the Panthers to victory that night but sowed the seeds for a second straight Far East Division II title.
“He set the tone for the rest of the season,” Panthers offensive coordinator Josh Long said of Carpenter, who atoned for a muffed punt by stripping the ball from the quarterback and taking it 60 yards to set up a touchdown.
“A lot of sophomores would have shut down” after muffing a punt, Panthers head coach Michael Woodworth said. “But he said I made a mistake and I’m going to fix it. That was our most pivotal game of the season. If we lost that game, we don’t go to the championship.”
But go to the championship the Panthers did. And for the second straight year, Yokota won the D-II final at Matthew C. Perry – this time by a score of 44-20, with Carpenter contributing a team-leading 202 yards on 16 carries.
Though Carpenter didn’t score any touchdowns in that game, “the team performed the way they did based on how he performed,” Long said of Carpenter. “How many yards he had. How many tackles he had.”
But it was also the team’s mindset, Carpenter said. Yokota lost 13-0 earlier in the regular season at Perry. Due to that loss, Carpenter said he and his teammates made up their minds not to settle again.
“Our attitude,” Carpenter said. “We just had to go back there and win after that. We had something to prove.”
That victory left the Panthers 4-2 overall on the season, sandwiching two victories each around two defeats. They beat the Samurai in the D-II final at Matthew C. Perry for the second straight year.
For his efforts, Carpenter has been named Stars and Stripes football Athlete of the Year.
His numbers demonstrated his versatility, whether he played running back, quarterback, kick returner or linebacker.
Carpenter had 846 yards on 93 carries, eight rushing touchdowns, seven two-point conversions, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, one blocked punt, one defensive touchdown, a safety, 32 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks.
Whatever the task he was handed, “I can handle it,” Carpenter said. “Bringing my team up helps me to be better. It was important to show that we were still in the games, that we had something to prove.”
When starting quarterback Julian Chuckrey went down with an injury, Carpenter stepped in to take his place. Same with whenever a defensive player was lost. “In DODEA football, you can’t be a one-position player,” Woodworth said.
Whatever the position, Carpenter always seemed to be where he was needed, Woodworth said. “He could play anywhere, 100 percent,” Woodworth said of Carpenter.
He compared Carpenter to former Panther star Casey Bumpers, who led Yokota to the D-II title in 2024 with 135 yards on 13 carries, and the go-ahead 3-yard touchdown in the Panthers’ 22-10 triumph over the Samurai.
Both Carpenter and Bumpers would get what was needed when it was needed, Woodworth said.. “Same as Casey; whenever we needed a first down, Corey would get one,” Woodworth said.
For the Panthers, it’s the last time Carpenter will suit up in the blue and gold; he transfers after the school year ends.
“I hope I can get to the next level,” Carpenter said.
Year: Sophomore
Age: 15
Place of birth: Phoenix, Ariz.
Sports played besides cross country: Track and field, sprints, triple jump
Favorite school subject: Mathemathics
Least favorite school subject: Language.
Favorite athlete: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback.
Favorite sport to watch: Football
Favorite form of entertainment: Rap, R&B.
Favorite entertainer: Drake.
