Matthew C. Perry's Jane Williams ran the Kizuna Park course in 18 minutes, 12.4 seconds Saturday, best time among DODEA runners overseas. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)

If Saturday was the last day for athletes and teams to shine on the fields, courts and courses before the looming federal government shutdown, Matthew C. Perry cross country stars Jane Williams and Tyler Gaines and the school’s football team made very strong statements.

-- Williams ran the Kizuna Park course in Iwakuni in 18 minutes, 12.40 seconds, setting a personal, course and school record and clocking the fastest DODEA overseas girls time this season.

-- Fellow senior Gaines ran 15:56.80, also a personal, course and school best and the fastest DODEA-Pacific boys time this season.

“There cannot be a shutdown now,” Samurai cross country coach Brad Cramer said.

He added that “emotions are high” at the moment, concerning the rest of the season and Williams’, Gaines’ and the Samurai’s chances at winning Far East individual and team titles later this month. The Far East meet is scheduled for Oct. 23-24 at Misawa Air Base, Japan.

Matthew C. Perry's Tyler Gaines ran the Kizuna Park course in 15 minutes, 56.8 seconds Saturday, best time among DODEA-Pacific runners. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)

-- The Samurai football team got its second win of the season, 28-6 over Sotoku, a Japanese high school in Hiroshima. The win didn’t count for anything in the DODEA-Pacific Division II standings, but it gave Perry a bit of a boost, assuming the season will continue.

“We tried a new scheme and we had some success with it,” Samurai football coach Daniel Burns said. “Hopefully, the season can continue.”

Kameron Ramos ran 14 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns and was 4-for-9 passing for 36 yards and a score. Preston Ramirez caught three passes for 61 yards and a TD and Ethan Neville had a 3-yard touchdown run for the Samurai.

Assuming the fall season continues, Perry’s cross country team hosts a meet Saturday, followed by the DODEA-Japan finals Oct. 14. The Samurai’s next football game is scheduled for Oct. 13 at Robert D. Edgren.

Matthew C. Perry's Kameron Ramos lets a pass fly against Sotoku. The Samurai won 28-6. (Kevin Rossiter/Special to Stripes)