YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan – Desperately needing a victory to keep alive its chances of defending its Far East Division I football title, Nile C. Kinnick turned to Patrick Kelly and his heroes, who got the deed done with some astronomical aerial numbers.

Kelly, the Red Devils’ senior quarterback, was 14-for-16 for 511 yards and ran for 38 more. Kou Nishiyama caught four touchdown passes and Ryo Nishiyama and Gabriel Stravers one each as the Red Devils remained in the hunt to defend its title with a 39-0 romp over American School In Japan.

“Our backs are against the wall,” coach Dan Joley said of his Red Devils (3-2 overall, 2-2 D-I), who now need a win next Friday at 6 p.m. at Humphreys to earn the right to travel to Kadena for the D-I final at 5 p.m. Nov. 9.

“We had to win this game and we have to go to Korea, and their (Devils’) sights are on playing another game this season. They want to go back to the championship,” Joley said.

Helping fuel the Devils’ fire was Friday being homecoming and senior night, Joley said. “He (Kelly) wanted to play and the kids rallied around him,” Joley said. “It didn’t hurt that the Nishiyama twins had a great night.”

Ko had five catches for 232 yards and four touchdowns, Ryo had 169 yards and a TD on five catches, Daniel Burke caught a 64-yard pass and Stravers a 37-yard touchdown catch.

Also helping fuel the Devils’ fire was a 9-8 loss the previous week at Kadena, a game Joley feels his charges could have won. “I think we left a win down there,” he said.

“The defense has been outstanding. Two weeks in a row that defense was the star of the show. I think these guys are gelling at the right time.”

The Mustangs (0-4) close their season by hosting Kubasaki at 5 p.m. Friday.

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