Yokota's Kyshon Banks gets corraled by Zama's Chayden Williams and Greg Horton. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
CAMP ZAMA, Japan – A stingy defense and an opportunistic offense helped keep Zama in the driver’s seat for a shot at the DODEA-Pacific Far East Division II football title.
Will Schmiedel rushed for one touchdown and passed for two others, the Trojans defense held Yokota to minus-34 yards of offense and Zama also scored on special teams in a 33-0 senior night romp Friday over the Panthers.
“We know we’re senior heavy; they’ve been the anchor of this team,” Trojans coach Scott Bolin said. “They’ve done a phenomenal job keeping us in the driver’s seat.”
The Trojans improved to 6-0 and can clinch the top seed and host rights to the D-II championship game on Oct. 27 with a win on Oct. 21 at Osan or if the Cougars lose Oct. 14 at Yokota (2-2). Zama owns the tiebreaker edge over the other one-loss team, American School In Japan.
Helping bookend Friday’s victory were a pair of special-teams plays.
On its first possession, Yokota snapped the ball into the end zone on a punting down and Zama’s Chayden Williams fell on it for a touchdown.
The Trojans’ last scoring play was set up when Greg Horton blocked a Yokota punt and covered it at the Panthers’ 1-yard line. From there, Schmiedel threw a 1-yard touchdown to Jeremiah Georges.
“It feels amazing, this program, the support we have from our coaches,” Horton said.
None of Zama’s players were around four years ago when the Trojans won the third of their D-II titles, but Georges said he’s hoping they can grab one more on the 27th.
“We’re trying to keep winning and hitting that elite level that coach (Bolin) talks about, and bring back home the banner for our school,” Georges said.
Yokota's Casey Bumpers tries to put the collar on Zama's Roman Romero. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Zama's Jaydn Parker has his 33-yard field-goal attempt blocked by Yokota's Theo Shone. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Zama's Hiroki Davis skirts left end en route to a 31-yard touchdown run. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
A.J. Webster and Yokota's offense was held in check by a stingy Zama defense. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
The Trojans won despite gaining only 180 yards of offense. Horton also recovered a fumble, while Hiroki Davis set up his own 31-yard scoring run with an interception on Yokota’s second possession. Kainoah Venn and Tim Armstrong each recorded sacks for Zama.
Yokota played Friday without two of its starting linemen. “We made too many mistakes,” coach Michael Woodworth said. “We had injuries to key players. We have the talent to beat Zama. We just couldn’t put it together.”
The Trojans get the week off before traveling to Osan. Yokota hosts Osan next Saturday.
