Mustangs’ duo too much for Dragons

TOKYO — Shou Murakami-Moses demonstrated serious interception skills as a freshman free safety three seasons ago. On Friday, the senior played a key role on both sides of the football for American School In Japan.

Murakami-Moses caught touchdown passes of 28 and 20 yards from fellow senior Ray Takizawa, the latter sealing the contest, and as a bonus had a tackle for a safety late in the first quarter as ASIJ rallied past Kubasaki 30-20 at Mustang Valley.

“He’s a key guy in every game. He’s a major factor on our team. We go as he goes,” said ASIJ coach John Stanton of Murakami-Moses, who played in California last year. “We missed him last year. The combination of him and Ray tonight was just outstanding.”

With the victory, the Mustangs (2-2) remain alive for a berth in the Oct. 24 Far East Division I championship game, while all but eliminating the Dragons (1-3).

Murakami-Moses’ play for ASIJ in the secondary helped lead the Mustangs to the Far East Division II title in 2023. He had eight interceptions in ASIJ’s last three games.

On Friday, ASIJ rallied from deficits of 7-0 and 20-16 for the victory. The Dragons kept in the fight but kept making too many mistakes, Kubasaki coach Tony Alvarado said.

“We couldn’t get penetration on the outside,” Alvarado said. “We continue to make young mistakes, penalties, missed tackles. We’re still too young. We have to get better.”

Kubasaki took a 7-0 lead on quarterback Maurice Brown’s first-quarter sneak. ASIJ responded with John Doll’s 5-yard scoring run, then Murakami-Moses tackled Brown in the end zone for a safety. ASIJ led 9-7 after one quarter.

Murakami-Moses’ first TD catch upped the lead to 16-7. Mateo Solano ran 1-yard for a score to cut it to 16-13, which was the score at half.

Keyonte Lopez rushed 6 yards to give the Dragons their last lead, 23-16, early in the third quarter, which set the stage for Takizawa’s and Murakami-Moses’ late heroics.

Takizawa, who had sat the last three weeks with an injured wrist, ran 8 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 3:33 left in the third period. Murakami-Moses added the 20-yard scoring catch in the closing minutes.

Kubasaki has a week off before hosting D-I-leading Nile C. Kinnick for homecoming at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 or 9, to be determined. The Mustangs travel to Kadena for a key matchup at 6 p.m. next Friday.