Photo By Gregory Mitchell | Nile C. Kinnick Red Devils running back Latendre Paylor rushes into open field for one...... read more read more
YOKOSUKA, Japan - Fleet Activities (FLEACT), Yokosuka Nile C. Kinnick High School began the journey towards the beginning of the 2013 football season with a preseason victory over the visiting combined team of the Yokosuka Gakuin Eagles and Yokohama Bisons at Berkey Field, Aug. 17. The Red Devils prevailed, 52-19.
“I think the men we started out with were a sound unit,” said varsity head coach, Daniel Joley. “I told the players that after this weeks training, everything today is finally going to be serious. Of course, we still have some work to do with regards to conditioning due to the lack of depth but, I think we’ve got a good 20 guys that can play multiple positions. I am incredibly proud of the group of young men that we have here today.”
After the visiting team scored on a 17-yard pass to make it 7-0, varsity starting quarterback Dustin Wilson then hit wide receiver DeAnthony Evans on the Red Devils first offensive play with a 51-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 7-7.
From that point on the Red Devils rode the momentum of running back Latendre Paylor, who gained 278 yards on 24 carries, and scoring four touchdowns.
“The line did a great job of providing me lanes to run through,” said Paylor. “I just kept my focus on going where the plays were designed to go, and follow through the way coach told me to.”
Varsity quarterback Dustin Wilson completed 16 of 22 passes for 257 yards, two touchdowns, including one touchdown run. Running back Tarick Mitchell rushed four times for 75 yards. Defensively, the Red Devils stiffened and as a whole allowed only 185 yards total offense.
“The agenda for us this year is to commit to run stop defense,” said defensive secondary coach Kevin Warford. “We want more guys in the box; we want our secondary to act as extra linebackers. At this point we are a work in progress but I am happy with where we are; we are working at a good pace.”
Linebackers coach Anthony Gaddis shared Warfords’ view on both sides of the ball.
“In comparison to last year, we have taken a different approach with the players,” said Gaddis. “The coaching philosophy we have employed is a back-to-basics approach and it really hones in on their fundamentals. So far, so good; no backwards step, everyday we are going to get better.”
Immediately upon completion of the game, both teams shared a lunch with each other, which was prepared by the teams’ booster club.
“The really cool thing about this game was that it gave us a chance to mingle with our host nation friends,” said Joley. “It is a neat experience for our players. Some of the players have even made friends with the Japanese students, so it is a good chance for them to connect.”
For Paylor, the game was his first playing against host nation athletes, and a memory he will forever cherish.
“I was really excited about having the opportunity to play in this, because it gave us a chance to play with kids from off base,” said Paylor. “I think that when we do events like this, it brings American and Japanese together. I also think that the more we introduce the game of American football to the locals, the more Japanese will want to play.”
Nile C. Kinnick High School Red Devils will then begin their regular season at home against the Zama High School Trojans, Aug. 23.
| Date Taken: | 08.17.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.23.2013 04:02 |
| Story ID: | 112467 |
| Location: | YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 174 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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