Osan gets solid start, then holds off Perry

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI – Call it a tale of two star players on opposing teams in two differing halves, with Osan coming out on top by one point.

Jordin Chapman ran for two touchdowns and passed for another in the first half for the Cougars, who then held off a Matthew C. Perry rally as Osan prevailed 22-21 Saturday.

“We moved the ball well in the first half, but we had so many bad penalties in the second half,” said coach Tyler Greve of the Cougars (2-2), who had three TDs by T.J. Price called back on penalties. “We played pretty sloppy. We shut ourselves down in the second half.”

The Samurai (0-2 Division II, 0-3 overall) came to life in the second half after making adjustments at halftime, Perry coach A.J. Edwards said.

“We put up a fight. We turned it around in the second half,” Edwards said. “I’m proud of the guys. They showed a lot of heart. They were driving.”

Chapman rushed for touchdowns of 2 and 5 yards and threw a 70-yard scoring pass to Gevonni Lunn and the Cougars went into the lockerroom leading 22-0 at half.

Then it was George Rodriguez’s turn to shine for Perry. He sandwiched lengthy scoring runs of 63 and 50 yards around a 3-yard TD burst by Caden Zook to get the Samurai within a point.

Perry next hosts Yokota, second place in D-II, at 6 p.m. Friday. The Cougars have a three-week break before concluding the season at home against Robert D. Edgren.

Perry's Jerry Cordero runs for daylight against several Osan defenders. (Leon DeJesus/Special to Stripes)

Osan quarterback Jordin Chapman looks for running room against Perry. (Leon DeJesus/Special to Stripes)

Osan quarterback Jordin Chapman gets wrapped up by Perry’s Owen Davis. (Leon DeJesus/Special to Stripes)