Kubasaki quarterback Trajon Weaver accounted for 247 yards total offense and all five Dragons touchdowns. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa – Outsized by Kadena in the interior, Kubasaki turned to speed, quickness and their new quarterback from California to open the season by downing reigning Far East and DODEA-Japan champion in Friday’s season opener.
Junior Trajon Weaver accounted for 247 yards of total offense and all five touchdowns and the Dragons defense forced four turnovers, three of which led to points, in a 34-22 victory over the Panthers.
“We came in knowing we didn’t have the size” that Kadena has, Dragons coach Tony Alvarado said. “So, we wanted to emphasize our skill and our speed, knowing what Kadena has and we worked with what we had.”
The victory was a measure of revenge for the Dragons, who lost at Kadena 12-7 last Oct. 28 in the DODEA All-Japan Division I final. The Panthers won the last Far East Division I final 14-12 over Humphreys four years ago; the coronavirus pandemic forced the 2020, ’21 and ’22 D-I Far East finals to be canceled.
Friday’s opener was a battle of productive quarterbacks. Weaver was 14-for-30 for 235 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for TDs of 1, 8 and 29 yards. Kadena’s Cameron Wilson rushed 12 times for 149 yards and two scores and went 6-for-17 for 75 yards for 224 yards total offense.
Kubasaki's Kaito Moore corrals Kadena quarterback Cameron Wilson. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena's DeShaun Nixon bats away a pass intended for Kubasaki's Onzei Weaver. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena quarterback Cameron Wilson rushed 12 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns and was 6-for-17 for 75 yards passing. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena running back Flint Barton gets bottled up by Kubasaki defenders Kaiser Armour and Trey Johnson. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
But while Weaver piled up some big numbers, he said he couldn’t have done it without his teammates.
“I really want to thank my line for blocking for me and for the backs and receivers,” said Weaver, a transfer from Twentynine Palms, Calif. “It’s always a team W. I couldn’t do it without them.”
Weaver’s brother Onzei caught three passes for 54 yards and a TD, Caleb Stephan had a 2-yard touchdown catch, Malachi Pinkston had five receptions for 71 yards and Carlos Cadet had 86 yards on three catches.
But it was turnovers that helped set the tone for the Dragons. Trey Johnson and Lukas Gaines each had fumble recoveries and Cadet and Roman Leal each had interceptions for Kubasaki.
“You can’t win when you do that,” Kadena coach Sergio Mendoza said of the miscues. “They’re (Kubasaki) a good football team. We have a lot to clean up on in our end. We will get better. Sometimes when this happens, you end up working a lot harder in practice.”
Wilson had touchdown runs of 55 and 20 yards, while Jeremiah Drummer, who accounted for 147 all-purpose yards, rushed for a 7-yard touchdown and had two interceptions for the Panthers. DeShaun Nixon caught four passes for 44 yards. Kadena’s defense sacked Trajon Weaver four times.
Next Friday, Kadena visits Nile C. Kinnick, while Kubasaki entertains Humphreys; both kickoffs are scheduled for 6 p.m.
