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Pacific SportsBlogOkinawa-based sports reporter Dave Ornauer on military-related sports in the Far East. |
Congrats to our athletes of the quarter!
Posted June 2nd, 2007 by Dave OrnauerCongratulations to Kat Nufable and Demond Dean for earning Stars and Stripes Pacific spring Athlete of the Quarter honors, and to all others mentioned in all categories. Well deserved!
Next … Stars and Stripes recognizes its Pacific Athletes of the Year in our June 3 June 10 editions.
Who’s tops in your eyes? Give me a sign. We’ll be honoring the region’s top athletes, coach of the year, team of the year, program of the year, most improved team, most improved program, play of the year and game of the year, among others.
What do you think? Who’s your favourite? What stands out as the most memorable moment of the school year? Which team accomplished the best rally from the depths of nowhere to become a title contender or perhaps even a champion?
I know everybody’s got their own choices in mind, and that some of my choices may not agree with yours, but face it, that’s part of the fun of doing this for the last 21 years.
Dave - June 3, today?
Dave - June 3, today?
Oops
June 10, obviously. Check this COMING Sunday's editions. We'll get that corrected. :-s
Yearly Honors...
Team of the year. Seoul American Falcons, High School football. Far East Champions....
Play of the year.........QB Daniel Burns hitting TE Joe McLean with the winning TD in overtime of the Far East Championship football game.
Game of the Year........Seoul American Falcons vs. Kadena Panthers in the Far East football championship.
Program of the Year.....Seoul American.
Joe McLean
And what a game that was! McLean not only caught the game-winning touchdown pass, he forced and recovered the fumble that sealed the victory!
Ride the wayback machine with me ... That game was almost a mirror image of the Korea All-Stars 16-8 overtime triumph over John F. Kennedy of Guam in November 1991, 15 years earlier.
Kadena scored on its opening possession of the 2006 Far East title game. JFK scored on its first possession in the 1991 game. Each game went to overtime. Each game played under pastel-blue skies with brilliant sunshine. Great days to be outdoors watching football. :)
Edgren Eagles Football For Most Improved
How about the Edgren Eagles Football squad for Most Improved Team? They had a stellar home record (3-1, with the only blemish being Yokota's narrow 14-13 escape) and avenging their 2005 loss to Osan in the Class A Championship game sound like vast improvements to me.