Kinnick continues turnaround by topping Kadena

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Atsushi Blocton used to be referred to in past seasons as the “other” brother in their athletic Nile C. Kinnick family, given how his older brother Arashi stood out in three sports.

“Not anymore,” Red Devils football coach Dan Joley said of Atsushi Blocton.

The younger Blocton returned the opening second-half kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, then followed an ensuing fumble recovery with a 42-yard TD catch in less than two minutes, as Kinnick rallied past Kadena 42-20 Friday at Red Devils Field.

“He’s one of a handful of players who have been inspired (for Kinnick) to play at a higher level,” Joley said. The Red Devils have authored a turnaround from a winless season to a 4-0 record.

Blocton and other seniors such as Zeph Miyashiro and Jacob Bojorquiz have gotten their teammates into the weight room and workouts outside of school practices.

“They have just played inspired football,” Joley said. “They’re disappointed with the way last season went. They don’t want to leave any regrets. A cool group of kids to see them experience the success that they have. If you put in the work, you’ll end up on top someday.”

The Panthers (1-3) took a 6-0 first-quarter lead before the Red Devils scored three unanswered touchdowns. They led 28-12 at halftime, which set the stage for Blocton’s early second-half heroics. His two touchdowns capped the Red Devils’ scoring.

Kinnick running back Rico Myhand capped two long Kinnick drives with touchdown runs of 2 and 3 yards. Brady Mauldin also threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Eric Montalve and scored on a quarterback sneak.

The Panthers got touchdowns from Hunter Swartz on a quarterback sneak, a 20-yard run by Sean Cupp and a 5-yarder by A.J. Webster.

“We had some flukey stuff happen at the beginning of the second half,” Kadena coach Sergio Mendoza said.

When Kinnick scored 21 straight points, then twice early in the second half, “it’s tough to come back. The boys keep growing as a team, a unit, a family. Kinnick has a special team. Dan’s doing a great job with them.”

Kinnick next hosts Humphreys, while Kadena entertains American School In Japan. Both kickoffs are at 6 p.m. Friday. The Red Devils can earn host rights to the Division I championship with a win.

Kadena's Sean Cupp tries to break away from Kinnick's defense. (Violet Elijah-Kerby/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Eric Montalve gets wrapped up by Kadena's Derryck Miller. (Violet Elijah-Kerby/Special to Stripes)

Kadena's A.J. Webster tries to elude Kinnick's defense. (Mariela Garabis/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Brady Mauldin threw two touchdown passes and sneaked for another. (Jim Mills/Special to Stripes)

Kadena's Dylan O'Neal tries to elude Kinnick's Tristan Roethle. (Jim Mills/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Eric Montalve and Kadena's Dylan O'Neal go up for the ball. (Jim Mills/Special to Stripes)

Kadena's A.J. Webster tries to make his way around Kinnick's Atsushi Blocton. (Jim Mills/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Trey Ewing, Caiden McDonald and Jacob Bojorquiz bring down Kadena's Hunter Swartz. (Eryzah Joyce Ricardo/Special to Stripes)

Kadena's Dylan O'Neal tries to run over Kinnick's Emmanuel Zarraga. (Eryzah Joyce Ricardo/Special to Stripes)