Kubasaki and Kadena meet with backs to the wall

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Every Far East Division I football title game has featured one constant: at least one finalist was based on Okinawa.

As the second of two regular-season battles between Kadena and Kubasaki looms Friday, both teams are hopeful that will continue.

The Dragons enter the showdown 1-1 and the Panthers 0-2, the latter for the first time in the D-I playoff era.

So there’s a distinct chance that neither could reach the title game Oct. 24.

“It’s not going to happen,” Kubasaki senior fullback-linebacker Mateo Solano said, admitting, however, that “it’s crunch time. It’s definitely a must win for us and for Kadena, since they’re 0-2.”

The two teams square off at 6 p.m. Friday at Habu Field, the same site where the Dragons rallied from a 14-0 second-half deficit to beat the Panthers 21-14 on Aug. 21.

They’ve each played once since then – and took it on the chin. Kubasaki lost 54-7 at Nile C. Kinnick, then Kadena fell 27-2 at home to Humphreys.

“We have to keep our heads up when things go wrong,” Kadena senior running back-cornerback Carson Kenderdine said.

Mistakes hurt the Panthers in the first go-round with the Dragons, and when they happened, it seemed Kadena lost its edge, Kenderdine said.

“We have to turn that around,” he said. “I believe we can, as long as people step up and do their jobs.”

Kubasaki's Mateo Solano gets wrapped up by three Kinnick defenders. (Mackenzie Talbot/Special to Stripes)

Both teams also have to put the first game behind them and focus on the task at hand, Solano said.

“We’re definitely going to be locked in. It’s going to be a good game,” he said.

At the opposite end of the D-I spectrum, Kinnick and American School In Japan, each 1-0, play each other at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Division II sees Zama traveling to Osan, while Yokota hosts Matthew C. Perry; each game kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday.

Guam High opens its football campaign at home Friday against defending champion George Washington, with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

On the links, Kadena and Kubasaki tee up at 3 p.m. Thursday at Chibana’s Par-3 golf course.

Cross country season continues on Friday at Okinawa Christian and Saturday in Japan, when Zama travels to Robert D. Edgren, Perry visits E.J. King and DODEA Kanto schools head to Tama Hills Recreation Center.

On Korea’s tennis courts, Kubasaki entertains Kadena on Thursday, while Humphreys travels to Seoul Foreign and Daegu hosts Korea International on Friday. In Japan, King visits Edgren and Perry is at Yokota on Friday and Saturday.

Seoul Foreign also hosts Humphreys in volleyball on Friday, while Daegu entertains Dulwich College Seoul and International Christian-Pyeongtaek on Friday and Saturday.

Okinawa’s volleyball regular season opens Thursday with Kadena visiting Kubasaki. King is at Edgren and Perry at Yokota on Friday and Saturday.