Humphreys' Jason Meserve breaks into the open against Kinnick. (Gracie Farneman/Special to Stripes)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – Give the football to Joshua Canion and yards and touchdowns are sure to follow.

The junior running back ran 18 times for 138 yards, scored three times on the ground and caught a 77-yard touchdown pass from Bradley Miller as Humphreys defeated Nile C. Kinnick on Saturday at Blackhawks Field.

Since falling 30-0 at Kadena on Sept. 7, the Blackhawks have won two of three games by a 92-71 margin, and Canion has played a huge role, rushing for 522 yards and seven touchdowns on 49 carries.

But the offensive line has blossomed and the team as a whole has grown since the loss at Kadena, coach Reggie Meno said.

“They could have quit after that game at Kadena,” Meno said. “But from the coaches to all the players, (junior varsity) and varsity starters, we’ve instilled that mentality of just never quit. It’s taken us a long time, but we’re getting on the track we need to be on.”

Humphreys improved to 2-2 overall and in Division I with the victory.

Nile C. Kinnick’s Derek Ulrich rushed for two touchdowns in the losing cause. (Gracie Farneman/Special to Stripes)

Miller was 4-for-10 for 80 yards including the TD pass to Canion. Joshua Sahagun returned a fumble for a touchdown and freshmen Dallas Hunter and John Campos each had interceptions for the Blackhawks. Campos added five tackles, one for a loss, and a pass deflection.

“The defense spread the love,” Meno said.

For the Red Devils, who lost their second straight game to fall to 2-2, there were too many penalties and missed chances, coach Dan Joley said.

“We didn’t capitalize” when they had the chance, he said. “We let our game flow get away from us. We had bad snaps at inappropriate times, miscues, missed tackles. And when we scored, we let them answer.”

Derek Ulrich rushed 17 times for 185 yards, including touchdown runs of 9 and 64 yards. Koboyo Awesso kicked field goals of 38 and 35 yards, giving him four on the season. Arashi Blocton was 7-for-12 passing for 115 yards for Kinnick.

But the Red Devils missed chances to score on two trips deep into Blackhawks territory. They were penalized for 215 yards.

Just one weekend remains in the DODEA-Pacific regular season. Humphreys travels to Tokyo to face American School In Japan at 1 p.m. Friday, while Kinnick hosts D-I-leading Kubasaki at 6 p.m. Friday.

The Blackhawks could sew up a semifinal berth with a victory at Mustang Valley – Humphreys also beat ASIJ 36-20 on Sept. 27 – but Meno said the team isn’t looking beyond its next game.

“We’re not looking any further than ASIJ right now,” Meno said. “We have to stay focused on one game at a time.”

Guam High falls to Southern

AGANA HEIGHTS, Guam – Surprising Southern High School gave up its first points of the season in four games, but the Dolphins remained unbeaten at 4-0, beating Guam High 35-6 Saturday at Panthers Field.

Braden Flinn caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Colton Engling to account for the Panthers’ lone points, their first TD since their 46-0 season-opening win over Tiyan. It was Guam High’s third straight loss.

Engling finished 10-for-25 for 132 yards. Noah Harris rushed for 104 yards on 11 attempts for the Panthers.