Humphreys hands Kinnick its first defeat

Brian Taylor and Dallas Hunter each scored two touchdowns as defending Far East Division I champion Humphreys handed high-powered Nile C. Kinnick its first loss of the season.

But it was JoJo Brinkerhoff who might have pulled off the play of the game for the Blackhawks. The senior tossed a wingback option pass to Brian Taylor for a 75-yard touchdown, which helped Humphreys edge Kinnick 31-29 Friday.

“We have talented guys, they can do a bit of everything,” Blackhawks coach Tyrone Powers said. “We try to put them in position to showcase their talents, and JoJo did.”

With the victory, the Blackhawks opened up the chase for spots in the D-I championship game scheduled for Oct. 24. Kinnick and Humphreys appear to have the best chance, but American School In Japan and Kadena still have an outside shot to eke out one of the two berths.

Humphreys led throughout Friday’s contest. Powers said the Blackhawks’ strategy was to be balanced on offense and defense and to try to take away some of Kinnick’s many scoring weapons.

“They were a really good team,” Powers said of Kinnick. “We were balanced on defense, in our run and passing games and we didn’t make many mistakes. We also didn’t want some of their key players to have a field day.”

In addition to Brinkerhoff’s TD pass, Taylor also caught a 40-yard scoring strike from Humphreys’ Marek Allen. Hunter rushed for touchdowns of 5 and 2 yards, and Allen added a 37-yard field goal.

That offset a stellar performance by Kinnick sophomore quarterback Brady Mauldin, who accounted for all four Red Devils touchdowns. Mauldin scored on runs a 1 and 7 yards and threw touchdown passes of 60 yards to Atsushi Blocton and 20 to Emmanuel Zarraga.

But Mauldin also threw two interceptions and the Red Devils lost three fumbles, with Humphreys capitalizing on four of the five turnovers.

“They’re well coached, well disciplined and they did all the right things,” Kinnick coach Dan Joley said.

Terrian Fleming had six carries for 80 yards, Trey Ewing nine tackles — three for losses — and freshman Tristan Roethle added six tackles, two for losses, for Kinnick. Blocton also picked off a pass for Kinnick.

“We have some work to do, but we’ll fix it and be ready to play,” Joley said.

Kinnick visits Kubasaki and Humphreys hosts Kadena next Thursday, with each kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. The Panthers-Blackhawks game might start later, with Kadena traveling to Humphreys the day of the game.

Kinnick's Emmanual Zarraga tries to elude Humphreys' Brian Taylor. (Janaea Rae Lactaoen/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Terrian Fleming gets wrapped up by Humphreys' Broderick Carmody. (Janaea Rae Lactaoen/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Terrian Fleming tries to slow down Humphreys' Brian Taylor. (Eryzah Joyce Ricardo/Special to Stripes)

Humphreys' JoJo Brinkerhoff and Kinnick's Zeph Miyashiro go up for the ball. (James Brogen/Special to Stripes)

Kinnick's Terrian Fleming runs into a pair of Humphreys defenders. (Ethan Eriksen/Special to Stripes)

Atsushi Blocton caught a touchdown pass and intercepted a pass for Kinnick. (MacKenzie Talbot/Special to Stripes)