OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea – A former Nile C. Kinnick football player took his turn in the spotlight Monday, helping the Singapore Falcons all-league team throttle host Osan American 34-0 in a rare Monday inter-district contest.

Tim Merritt, a senior, ran 33 yards for the game’s final TD in the fourth quarter of the Falcons’ second game since culling the best players from the Singapore American Community Action Council’s three senior football teams into an all-league squad. Singapore beat Kadena 14-6 at home on Oct. 13.

“He’s a fine young man, really coachable and a terrific athlete,” said Falcons coach Jamie Matisin, who also had Merritt on his regular-season Singapore Vikings roster. “He’ll play anywhere we need him. He’s a senior and we’re going to miss him.”

Jeff Scott of the Vikings ran for 220 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, while the Vikings’ Josh Dawe added 155 yards and a score on nine attempts. Kevin Hurh of the Bulldogs rushed for a touchdown to open the scoring for the Falcons. John Roberts was good on four extra-point kicks.

“Scott was an absolute standout,” Matisin said. “He got a lot of his yards after first contact. He played a tremendous football game. Best game I’ve seen him play.”

Having a game under their belt before flying the seven hours to Korea “made a huge difference” for the Falcons between the Kadena and Osan games, Matisin said. “The crispness, the blocking, doing the fundamentals right.”

Weather was a worry, Matisin said, as his Falcons practiced in the chill of an early Monday morning rain, but by the time the game started, the rain subsided and it was “very pleasant here. I was in short sleeves. Beautiful weather by the time we kicked off.”

Singapore American School, from which most of the players come, is on fall break and the team will stay in Korea for six more days, playing Daegu High at Seoul American High School’s Sims Field on Saturday.

Asked how the Falcons will do against Daegu, Cougars coach Duke Allen said: “They’re a solid team with big strong guys.”

Singapore then closes its season Nov. 3 at home against Kubasaki. Osan (0-7) visits Seoul American on Friday to end its season.

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