Zama's Isaiah Segarra tries to elude Perry's Gerardo Cordero. (Zama football)

Jordan Burford watched from the bench three seasons ago as Matthew C. Perry beat every DODEA-Japan football team except Nile C. Kinnick, giving the Samurai the best win-loss record among the district’s Division II teams.

On Friday, as the starting quarterback, Burford helped lift the Samurai to their biggest victory since that season.

The senior passed for a touchdown and rushed for two more, including a 10-yard run in overtime, and intercepted two passes as Perry edged Zama 21-15 in overtime.

“He’s paid his dues,” Perry coach Daniel Burns said of Burford. “It’s his fourth year in the program, and it’s his time to shine.”

It was the Samurai’s first win of the D-II season against two losses, while the Trojans fell to 2-2 overall, suffering their first loss of the D-II season. Coupled with a 7-0 win by Robert D. Edgren (3-1) over Yokota (2-2), the Division II race tightened up considerably.

“Division II is going to be interesting the next couple of weeks,” Trojans coach Scott Bolin said.

Burford led off the scoring with a touchdown pass to Kameron Ramos; the Samurai’s 7-0 lead stood through halftime, then things began to see-saw.

Zama quarterback Adrian Santiago-Cruz tries to outrun Perry defensive end Braylon Stephens. (Zama football)

The Trojans got on the board via a 55-yard interception-return touchdown by Chris Jones. Burford got the first of his rushing touchdowns, then Zama quarterback Adrian Santiago-Cruz ran 12 yards for a score and Garrett Allen tied it 15-15 with a two-point conversion.

Zama opted to go on defense for the first overtime series, and Burford promptly ran 10 yards for what proved to be the winning points. Perry missed the two-point try, then the Trojans went four-and-out on their overtime series.

“We went back to old-school Perry football and just ran the ball,” Burns said.

For the Trojans, it was a case of too many missed opportunities, Bolin said.

“We dug one too many holes for ourselves,” he said. “We had multiple opportunities to seal it in the fourth quarter. Perry played a great game. They shut down our receivers and we shanked two field goals.”

The Trojans will pick up a forfeit victory next week over Osan, which was scheduled to play at Zama next Saturday. The Cougars are forfeiting the contest due to injuries, Osan athletics director Bridget Heffele said.

Yokota visits Matthew C. Perry next Friday; kickoff is at 6 p.m.

“Division II is going to come down to whichever team is the healthiest,” Burns said.

Okinawa game halted by lightning

Friday’s Kubasaki homecoming game against Kadena was suspended at halftime due to lightning, with the Dragons ahead 13-0. No makeup date for the second half was immediately announced.

Carlos Cadet ran 35 yards for one touchdown and tossed a short pass to Haustyn Lunsford, who turned it into a 65-yard catch and score for the Dragons.

Kubasaki entered the game unbeaten at 3-0, with Kadena a half-game behind at 3-1.

Guam High forfeits to Father Duenas

Injuries suffered by players in their loss last week to George Washington forced Guam High to forfeit Friday’s home contest against Father Duenas Memorial, Guam High athletics director Ed Paz said.

One player had a broken collarbone against the Geckos and a few others suffered concussions, Paz said.

The forfeit gave the eight-time defending league champion Friars their 75th consecutive victory.