Neil Kentish caught one of two touchdown passes for Kadena against ASIJ. (Greg Holladay/Special to Stripes)

TOKYO – Hajime Reed enjoyed a breakout game Friday as Kadena got a huge road win at American School In Japan and jumped into the thick of the chase for the Division I playoff top seed.

Reed, a junior transfer from Robert D. Edgren, rushed for three touchdowns and the Panthers (2-1) scored five times on the ground and twice through the air in Friday’s 49-0 romp at Mustang Valley. ASIJ, last year’s Far East Division II champion, fell to 0-2.

“We’ve started to come together, the way I thought we would,” Panthers coach Sergio Mendoza said. “It was a step in the right direction. We still have a lot to clean up. But we’re finally starting to believe in each other.”

It was the second straight victory by shutout for the Panthers, who blanked Humphreys last Saturday 30-0. Kadena has not allowed any points over its last nine quarters of football.

Quarterback DeShaun Nixon tossed a pair of touchdown passes, one each to Flint Barton and Neil Kentish. Barton also picked off a Mustangs pass. Sophomore running back Ethan Ferch added two rushing TDs for the Panthers. Reed finished with 141 yards on 11 carries plus a fumble recovery. Ferch ran 12 times for 95 yards and Nixon was 2-for-5 for 66 yards and Barton had 30 yards on six carries.

Friday’s victory was a tune-up for Kadena’s upcoming home game at 6 p.m. Friday against Nile C. Kinnick, which could be a preview of one of the upcoming D-I playoff games next month.

“We’ve been waiting for the boys to come together,” Mendoza said. “They showed up tonight. Now, we just have to go back to the grind.”

The Mustangs, meanwhile, visit Kubasaki at 6 p.m. next Saturday, needing a win to stay alive in the D-I playoff hunt.

Hajime Reed rushed for three touchdowns to boost Kadena to victory over ASIJ. (Greg Holladay/Special to Stripes)

ASIJ quarterback Isreal Rodriguez gets pursued by Kadena's Ethan Ferch. (Greg Holladay/Special to Stripes)

Kadena’s Flint Barton caught a touchdown pass and had an interception for Kadena vs. ASIJ. (Greg Holladay/Special to Stripes)