Kadena running back Hajime Reed was tough to stop, rushing for 263 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa – Call Kadena’s homecoming football game “Big Play Friday.”
Hajime Reed ran 20 times for 263 yards and a touchdown, Flint Barton ran for a TD and returned a fumble for a score in a 38-7 romp Friday over Nile C. Kinnick.
The Panthers scored on offense, defense and special teams and got four of its TDs on plays of 41 yards or more.
“We were able to do the things we needed to do to play a complete football game,” Kadena coach Sergio Mendoza said.
It was the third straight victory for the Panthers following a season-opening loss to Division I-leading Kubasaki, while the Red Devils suffered their first loss in three games, falling to 1-1 in Division I.
“You can’t turn the ball over, you can’t give them opportunities in our end of the field,” Kinnick coach Dan Joley said. “You just can’t make mistakes like that. We just got beat by a better football team.”
In a game in which neither team completed a pass in 10 tries, the Panthers outgained the Red Devils 388-184 on offense and added 169 yards on four returns for a total of 557 yards. Kadena did not turn over the ball once, while Kinnick lost two fumbles, including Barton’s that went for a TD.
Reed’s 52-yard touchdown run 1 minute, 17 seconds into the second quarter broke a scoreless deadlock. Kadena recovered the ensuing kickoff, then quarterback DeShaun Nixon scrambled 41 yards for a score that made it 14-0 6:36 before halftime.
Helped by Derek Ulrich’s 42-yard running play, the Red Devils halved the deficit on quarterback Arashi Blocton’s 1-yard scoring run with 4:51 remaining in the second quarter.
The second half was all Panthers. A.J. Webster returned the opening kickoff 94 yards, setting up a 2-yard TD run by Ethan Ferch.
The first of two Barton fumble recoveries and an 88-yard run by Reed set up a 23-yard field goal by Samuel Valdez.
Kadena then iced it on two big plays by Barton. He took an inside handoff and rambled untouched 50 yards for a touchdown with 10:02 left. On Kinnick’s next possession, he picked up a loose ball and again ran untouched, 53 yards for the game’s final score with four minutes left.
The Panthers visit Kubasaki at 6 p.m. next Friday, trying to avenge their 14-13 home loss on Aug. 23 to the Dragons. The Red Devils have next week off, then travel to Humphreys for a 6 p.m. kickoff Oct. 5.
Mendoza said the final score was not an indicator of the game. “Kinnick always gives us a tough game,” he said. “They’re well coached. They’re a good team. We have to go back to the grind.”
Kinnick's Atsushi Blocton gets dragged down by Kadena's Michael Smith. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Ethan Ferch tries to free his jersey from the clutches of Kinnick defender Nathan DeWolfe. Ferch ran 2 yards for a third-quarter touchdown. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kinnick quarterback Atsushi Blocton gets an escort from Red Devil running back Derek Ulrich. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kinnick quarterback Arashi Blocton slithers free of the grasp of Kadena defender Ethan Ferch. Blocton scored the Red Devils' lone touchdown late in the first half. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena quarterback DeShaun Nixon gets hauled down by Kinnick defender Nathan DeWolfe, one of three times Nixon was sacked. Nixon ran 41 yards for a second-quarter touchdown. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kinnick running back Jordan Mack gets wrapped up by Kadena's Julius Gantz. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena receiver Flint Barton and Kinnick's Joseph Mauldin go up for a pass as Red Devils defender Arashi Blocton lunges to help. The pass fell incomplete and pass interference was called on Kinnick. Barton scored two touchdowns for the Panthers. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kinnick's Joseph Mauldin tries to wrestle down Kadena running back Hajime Reed. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
