Pacific
Perry unbeaten no longer as ASIJ romps
Stars and Stripes
October 3, 2014
Matthew.C. Perry quarterback Garrett Macias checks the formation prior to snapping in the first quarter of the Samurai visit to American School In Japan in Chofu, Japan on Oct. 3, 2014. Perry lost their first game of the season 41-0. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)
Matthew.C. Perry quarterback Garrett Macias checks the formation prior to snapping in the first quarter of the Samurai visit to American School In Japan in Chofu, Japan on Oct. 3, 2014. Perry lost their first game of the season 41-0. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)
Matthew C. Perry running back Caeleb Ricafrente follows his blockers through Perry's triple wing offense during the first quarter of the Samurai visit to American School In Japan in Chofu, Japan on Oct. 3, 2014. The Samurai lost their first game of the season 41-0. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)
American School In Japan senior wide receiver Joseph Walker is dragged down by Matthew C. Perry defensive back Tyson Moore and linebacker Mick Carreiro following a reception in the second quarter of the Mustangs and Samurai game in Chofu, Japan on Oct. 3, 2014. The Mustangs won 41-0 behind a balanced offensive attack and a stout defensive line. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)
American School In Japan quarterback Brandon Rogers is brought down by Matthew C Perry defenders following a quarterback keeper just outside the endzone in the second quarter of the Mustangs and Samurai game in Chofu, Japan on Oct. 3, 2014. The Mustangs won 41-0 behind a balanced offensive attack and a stout defensive line. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)
American School In Japan defensive back Ray Hotta forces Matthew C. Perry wide receiver Tyson Moore to drop a pass in the third quarter of the Mustangs and Samurai game in Chofu, Japan on Oct. 3, 2014. The Mustangs won 41-0. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)
American School In Japan defensive back Ray Hotta intercepts a pass in the fourth quarter of the Mustangs and Matthew C. Perry Samurai game in Chofu, Japan on Oct. 3, 2014. Hotta's interception sealed the Mustangs' shutout in a 41-0 rout. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)
American School In Japan running back Alex Carroll runs the clock down in the fourth quarter of the Mustangs and Matthew C. Perry Samurai game in Chofu, Japan on Oct. 3, 2014. The Mustangs won 41-0. (James Kimber/Stars and Stripes)
TOKYO - For American School In Japan, it was the continuation of a bounceback from a huge loss at Kadena. For Matthew C. Perry, it was an eye-opener on a couple of levels.
Brandon Rogers threw for three touchdowns. Ryan Murphy ran for two and the host Mustangs won their second straight and handed the Samurai their first loss as a varsity team in 11 seasons, 41-0 Friday at Mustang Valley in the first football meeting between the two schools.
Perry fell to 3-1 on the season, and coach Frank Macias said the Samurai were able to take some things away from this game.
“This is all new for us,” Macias said of 14-hour bus rides, getting maybe six hours sleep, playing, then getting right back on the bus and heading home. As a non-varsity program the last two years, most of Perry’s games were Saturday affairs.
“We did have kids step up through adversity,” Macias said. “That’s when you find out what you really are. In the second half, we had kids who didn’t quit. They kept fighting.”
Macias said the Samurai as a team must hit the weight room to keep up with the bigger teams. “It’s very evident that the weight room is the No. 1 factor,” he said.
ASIJ “showed us what it’s like to play a team that lifts. If we are to step into the upper echelon of the Pacific, we have to start lifting.”
Caeleb Ricafrente led the Samurai with 77 yards on 13 carries. Garrett Macias went just 2-for-11 for 65 yards, but Perry also had five dropped passes. “It was ugly,” Frank Macias said. Jason DeGrace rushed 15 times for 55 yards.
The Mustangs, meanwhile, are starting to come into their own, coach John Seevers said, thanks to more physical play in recent weeks.
“We took some lumps,” Seevers said, citing Kadena’s 49-0 win over the Mustangs (3-1) on Sept. 12 on Okinawa. “We’re starting to play more physically than we did at the start of the year and that’s made a big difference for us. We’re getting better every week.”
Rogers was 10-for-15 for 157 yards and Murphy rushed 11 times for 78 yards. Murphy also caught a touchdown pass, as did Alex Dacus and Ray Hotta. Zach Noddin rushed for a score and led ASIJ with seven tackles.
The game was Perry’s final tuneup for next Friday’s neutral-site game against Robert D. Edgren at Yokota, which in all likelihood will decide which team will host the Far East Division II title game on Nov. 7.
Meanwhile, the Mustangs next host Nile C. Kinnick, which is vying for a berth in the Far East Division I title game Nov. 8.
“We’ll have our hands full next week,” Seevers said. “That’s going to be the big one.”