Kadena Panthers Kadena Air Base, Okinawa2012 season record — 3-4 overall, 164 points for, 112 points against.Head coach — Sergio Mendoza, eighth season. Overall record 39-8, five Okinawa Activities Council regular-season titles (2006-10), three Class AA championships (2007, ’09, ’10).Returning players — 13.Returning starters — 9.Key performers — Justin Sego, Jr., RB; D.J. Padilla, Sr., RB-DB; Darren Gerstner, Sr., RB; Barry Mitchell, Jr., RB; Gage Bongo, Sr., FB; Preston Harris, Sr., WR; Damien Reese, Sr., TE-LB; James Alexander, Sr., L; Tanner Stuart, Sr., QB (transfer from Oklahoma).Strengths — Attitude, work ethic, veteran backfield, abundance of linemen.Drawbacks — Young in the interior.Overview — Reloading-contending. Learning curve will be steep for the line initially, but could become a D-I contender. Mendoza says the team has put in some very hard work over the summer.
Schedule Thursday, Aug. 29—vs. Kubasaki at Ryukyu Middle School, 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7—at Seoul American, 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13—at Kubasaki, 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28—at Seoul American, 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5—vs. Yokota at Ryukyu Middle School, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12—vs. Daegu, 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25—vs. Kubasaki, time and site to be determined. Saturday, Nov. 2—at Nile C. Kinnick, 7 p.m.