Senior Jerry Cordero, one of a handful of Samurai veterans, will split time at quarterback, wideout and defensive back. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Third in a series of DODEA-Pacific high school football previews.
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan – For the last two years, Matthew C. Perry blazed through the Division II regular season like a house afire.
But both the 2024 and 2025 seasons ended in heartbreaking fashion in Far East D-II title games against Yokota – and on Perry’s home Samurai Field, no less. A 22-10 come-from-behind verdict in 2024, a 44-20 one-sided rout last season.
Jerry Cordero certainly remembers. The Perry senior multi-purpose back says he and his Samurai teammates may be underclass-heavy, but the last thing they want is to suffer yet another devastating end to their season.
“We can definitely work up from where we are now,” Cordero said of a Perry team that only has four seniors, but brings to the table plenty of youthful, but talented new players. “We’re definitely going to work every hard to be where we were last year.”
One thing that won’t change, Cordero and second-year coach A.J. Edwards said, is a Samurai offense that has relied almost exclusively on the running game since the program’s revival 14 seasons ago.
Perry has some size in the interior, in sophomores Nate Reust and Max Navarro, junior Owen Davis and senior Toby Zuniga-Ellis. Navarro will also see some time in the backfield, while Reust will line up at tight end.
One new face in the line is Aidan Glodowski, a freshman whom Edwards calls a “natural athlete,” learning very quickly and sporting plenty of potential.
Cordero will split time at quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back. Other skills-positions players include sophomores Dior Payne and Tristan Ricamona and freshman Khalil Jones, a receiver-safety whom Edwards describes as “shifty.”
“They’re willing to grind,” Edwards said of his youngish roster.
“We’re facing the same situation as the last two years, veterans leave, new players come in, but we have some good core players with potential. We’d like to end the season” the same as the last two seasons, in the D-II final, Edwards said.
Perry opens its season with an exhibition game Aug. 29 against Sotoku, a Japanese opponent from Hiroshima. Its first D-II regular-season game is a rematch of the last two Far East finals at Yokota on Sept. 11.
Sophomore Dior Payne and coach A.J. Edwards are hopeful of strapping up another winning Perry team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Perry has some size in the interior of what is traditionally a run-heavy offense. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Matthew C. Perry Samurai
2025 season record — 5-1 overall. Lost 44-20 to Yokota in the D-II final.
Head coach — A.J. Edwards, second season.
Championship — 2016 Far East Division II (lost in five other appearances, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2024 and 2025).
Returning players — 8.
Returning starters — 4.
Key performers — Jerry Cordero, Sr., QB-DB-WR; Tristan Ricamona, So., RB-MLB; Aidan Glodowski, Fr., L; Khalil Jones, Fr., WR-S; Nate Reust, So., DE-DT-TE; Owen Davis, Jr., DT-OL; Toby Zuniga-Ellis, Sr., L; Max Navarro, So., DL-LB-FB.
Strengths — Small group of key players, quickness and skills.
Drawbacks — Youth, inexperience.
Overview — Rebuilding, but with time and game experience, the Samurai are hoping to become competitive. Definitely motivated after winning the last two D-II regular-season titles, only to lose the last two D-II finals at home to Yokota.
2026 season schedule
Saturday, Aug. 29
Sotoku at Perry
Friday, Sept. 11
Perry at Yokota
Saturday, Sept. 19
Osan at Perry
Friday, Sept. 25
Yokota at Perry
Friday, Oct. 2
Perry at Robert D. Edgren
Friday, Oct. 9
Perry at Zama
Friday, Oct. 23
Championship, teams, time and site to be determined.
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