Atsugi White Dolphins quarterback Broderick Johnson is wrapped up by Yokosuka Seahawks defensive lineman Derrick Clay just as he throws the ball during Saturday's game. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
Atsugi White Dolphins quarterback Broderick Johnson is wrapped up by Yokosuka Seahawks defensive lineman Derrick Clay just as he throws the ball during Saturday's game. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
Yokosuka Seahawks defensive back Mike Favors outruns Atsugi White Dolphins lineman Byron McLendon on a 31-yard interception return. (Dave Ornauer / S&S)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Kevin Hill continues to pile up yards and touchdowns for the Yokosuka Seahawks.
Hill rushed 21 times for 129 yards and two TDs as the three-time defending U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League champion Seahawks soared for five second-half scores to bury the Atsugi White Dolphins 36-6.
Yokosuka (2-0) avenged its only two losses of 2002, while knocking Atsugi (2-1) out of first place for the first time this season.
“There was a whole lot of motivation. This was a big incentive,” Seahawks coach Isaac Lee said. “We wanted this very badly.”
Atsugi’s showing was a far cry from the team that handed the Seahawks their only two losses since 2000. The White Dolphins outscored Yokosuka 38-6 in those two games — and Lee said his charges remembered.
“The way they came on and pushed us around last year, that was an attention-getter,” Lee said.
Hill has garnered some attention of his own. In two games as Yokosuka’s featured back, he has 324 yards and four TDs on 36 carries, an average of 9 yards per carry.
“He’s the real deal,” Lee said. “He’s made a believer out of me.”
James McCullough also scored twice, gaining 51 yards on eight carries, and quarterback Will Hall ran nine times for 56 yards. James Crowell added 46 yards on eight attempts before leaving with an ankle injury.
But it was Hill who spearheaded a Seahawks rushing attack that rolled for 285 yards on 51 carries, much of it in the second half after Yokosuka’s passing game proved ineffective. The Seahawks turned the ball over three times in a scoreless first half.
“Run between the tackles, run the corners, keep it simple with sustained drives,” Lee said, referring to the adjustments he made at halftime. “Nothing fancy.”
The Seahawks held Atsugi to 64 yards on 50 plays, forced eight turnovers and had four sacks.
“The defense gave us good field position. We simply took advantage of it,” Lee said.
Two-time USFJ-AFL defensive player of the year Mike Favors picked off two passes, and linebacker Stephen Fox returned another interception for a touchdown.
Yokosuka overcame a huge performance by Atsugi’s Javar Williams, who returned a kickoff 82 yards for his third TD of the season and finished with 177 all-purpose yards on six touches.
“Too many turnovers. Too many lost opportunities,” Atsugi coach Russ Casimire said. “Back to the drawing board.”
He’ll have some time to lick his wounds. Atsugi is idle until July 12, when it hosts third-place Misawa. The Seahawks don’t play another game until July 26, when they entertain last-place Yokota.
