Yokota's A.J. Webster tries to evade two Matthew C. Perry defenders. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan – Casey Bumpers played stoutly on both sides of the ball, helping Yokota remain unbeaten in two games this season.

The junior running back-linebacker rushed 14 times for 104 yards and three touchdowns and also intercepted a pass, one of four takeaways for the Panthers, who blanked Matthew C. Perry 46-0 to improve to 2-0 this season. The Samurai fell to 1-2.

“Defense, special teams and the ground game,” Yokota coach Michael Woodworth said. “We still haven’t found a passing game yet, but we will. But our running game is pretty solid.”

The Panthers wasted little time taking a 21-0 lead six minutes into the game. They recovered two of their own squib kickoffs, leading to their second and third scores.

Matthew C. Perry's Shayden Torres tries to run past Yokota's Rodrigo Negron-Blanco. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)

Yokota's Ethan Bricker throws on the run while being chased by Matthew C. Perry's Jordan Falcon. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)

Matthew C. Perry's Jordan Burford tries to catch a pass in front of Yokota's William Rowell. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)

Freshman A.J. Webster ran for 40 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 14 carries and also had an interception. Kicoh Guenther scored from 15 yards out on his only carry and Braedan Raybon and Aiden Leppo each recovered fumbles for Yokota.

Ethan Bricker, Yokota’s quarterback, ran for 34 yards on three carries, including a 25-yard scoring run. He was just 1-for-7 passing for 15 yards.

“We showed our inexperience tonight,” Samurai coach Daniel Burns said. “Too many turnovers and Yokota made us pay.”

Yokota gets the week off, then hosts American School In Japan on Sept. 29 for the Panthers’ 50th-anniversary homecoming. The Samurai host Osan next Saturday.