-- Kadena is, simply put, a very, very dangerous team. Brandon Harris or Anthony Tarver sniffing out the nearest interception and taking it to the house. Big-armed Lamar Smith striking just the right note with the well-placed pass on fourth down. And how about Stan Schrock, leaping over double coverage to catch that fourth-down pass? A defense that allowed deepest penetration by Kubasaki to Kadena's 38, and only two first downs the whole game?
-- Kubasaki takes better care of the football, the best-of-five Okinawa Activities Council season series would at least be even at 1-1. The Dragons's takeaway to turnover ratio in the two games thus far? One takeaway to 11 giveaways, including seven interceptions.
-- Johnell Alexander runs for four touchdowns. Luke Nelson rumbles for two more. Robert D. Edgren rights itself with a 42-0 home victory over Zama American. Sure beats that one-point loss a week earlier to American School In Japan.
-- Speaking of Mustangs, that Friday showdown at Yokota resembled a track meet early on, with ASIJ matching Yokota touchdown for touchdown. But the Panthers' defense adjusted to ASIJ's quirky A-11 offense, and the score might have been more than 24-14 had not Yokota fumbled the ball away three times in the second half. Just like in their 18-14 loss at Kubasaki the week before.
-- If nothing else, Brian Sanders (180 yards, 3 touchdowns, 19 carries) and Guam High proved that Father Duenas Memorial, the current Interscholastic Football League front-runner and defending champion, is vulnerable.
-- 150 days.
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Edgren Scoring
Here is how the scoring went Friday night, Aaron Gomez scored one TD, Luke Nelson scored two, Johnell scored two and Jamal Dennis scored one. The weather ran some interference in the second half. One two point conversion by Drew Holder. Good night for the Eagles after that one point loss.
A-11
I told you A-11 was crap. The game would have been a blowout had Yokota not shot itself in the foot with 3 fumbles and several dropped interceptions. So much for that "respect" that ASIJ "deserves."
3 points of order- Yokota ASIJ game
-ASIJ also fumbled several times so don't say the score might have been more for the panthers-the score had the potential to higher for either teams
- Don't state that yokota's defense was the only one that did some "adjusting"
Once ASIJ figured out how to stop Yokota's counter-based wishbone- the Panthers didn't score at all in the second half
- The differentiation of One TD and a field goal does not mean a teams offense can be qualified as "Crap"
Re: 3 points of order- Yokota ASIJ game
Points well taken. What would it be like to be at every single game played at the same time last night, I wondered after putting the story to bed?
Still Crap
A-11 is a gimmick offense and anyone who knows their football will agree. ASIJ's defense didn't stop Yokota, Yokota's mistakes and inability to handle the football did it. Don't pat yourself on the back for something you didn't do.
A - 11
Ghostwriter,
I'm not sure if you've actually seen ASIJs offense, but it does seem to work. I was on the winning side of last nights game but I thought the ASIJ offense was effective. We practiced for it and they still scored. In the end, they scored 2 offensive touchdowns and we scored two. We fumbled and they fumbled. What made the difference was our kick off return and a field goal. We also ate the clock in the forth quarter. No time for their O to get on the field. It was our second toughest game of the season.
Go Yokota!
I was there
I saw the game, and yes ASIJ did score 2 touchdowns. However, after one adjustment was made to the defense they were shut down the rest of the game. Do you remember that? What position do you play?
We shut em out but never
We shut em out but never shut em down. That's what I remember. The bottom line is that our offense, namely 'Rookie', kept their O off the field. When their O was on the field, they marched but we stopped em. I think we deserve credit rather than blaming their game.
You don't understand football
Did you actually play in the game (more than a special team or two)? Or are you a second teamer? Keeping them out of the end zone is shutting them down. It's a mentality called "bend don't break." Their offense was on the field a lot the second half, but they had quite a few punts. I have given Yokota credit the whole time, but their offense is not fundamentally sound.
You make no sense
An effective offense is one that wins games. You don't know much about football unfortunately.
Sense is a relative term
Ghostwriter,
I've read your posts and must admit I'm confused by your seemingly incoherent logic or disregard from what actually happened in the game. I videotaped the game so I had a chance to review it for a second time. In the second half, ASIJ's offense was on the field for just under 9 minutes. Yokota was on the field for over 15 minutes. During this time, neither team scored an offensive touchdown. Both teams had sustained drives and the only points were a Yokota field goal. Good for them. In the whole game, both teams scored 2 offensive touchdowns. Yokota scored another on the opening kick off. Yokota fumbled three times and ASIJ fumbled three times (once on the seven yard line). ASIJ punted twice in the second half as did Yokota. These are the facts.
I give Yokota full credit for their win and I wish them the best for the season. I also give ASIJ credit for playing a tough game. I'm not sure if you actually saw the game or if you're basing your comments on something you heard. Either way, given your logic, Yokota's offensive is as suspect as ASIJ's due to the fact that they scored an equal number of offensive touchdowns. In fact, you could argue that Yokota's is less effective as they had a decided advantage in minutes of possession and failed to score.
Perhaps you may want to reflect on the actual stats of the game and come to the conclusion that those of us who truly know football already know; Friday's game was a great defensive battle. Quit making excuses and give credit to the kids for playing a great game.
Sense is a relative term
Ditto Txsholdm!
I thought the game was a classic defensive struggle. I was thoroughly impressed by both teams and enjoyed the game. Unfortunately, my kid was on the losing team but he was philosophical about the outcome and was satisfied with the Mustang effort. He went as far as saying that the Yokota running back was the best in the league. I give him credit for recognizing that on Friday, he lost to a better team. That being said, I give full praise to the ASIj coaches for running an offense that compliments their personnel. Why try to force a square peg into a round hole? The team won their first three games and played a strong game against Yokota. If this record was attained via the A -11, a series of flea flickers or the old school, guard around, who cares?
On a final note, this was one of the best officiated games I've seen in the past three years. Kudos to the white hat and his crew.
Re: A-11
Not to defend or decry. The good about the A-11 is it permits teams that don't necessarily have big, quick beef to put their best athletes on the field. The bad is that it takes advantage of loopholes in the rules re: number of men in the backfield, on the line of scrimmage and which receiver "covers" another receiver and makes him ineligible. It's a loophole that likely will bring a quick demise to the A-11, in the same way it's not permitted at the college or pro level.
Forgot one
I think it's also not allowed in 10 states.
A-11
This offense is interesting and with the right skill people, seems to work. The bottom line is that if it's legal, works for the team running it and gives that team a chance to compete, you really can't criticize it.
Teams play to their strengths and try to overcome their weaknesses. If ASIJ has limits on the O Line and an abundance of skill players, this offense seems logical.
Think about the Run-n-Shoot at Univ. of Houston in the 80's (morphed into the Spread of today), Air Force running the Veer, the Wishbone. These were all offenses designed to enhance the opportunity to win based on the ability of the players they had.
At Zama in the 80's (my Freshman and Soph years), we ran the I-Formation, Shot Gun, Wishbone and even the Single Wing at various times during every game. We did this in order to compete with teams much bigger and deeper than we were.
If it works for you, run it. If defenses stop it, good for them. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the play caller.
Link to A-11 offense on the Web
Zamadawg:
Thank you for your thoughtful insight.
Here's a link to a Web site detailing the A-11 offense:
http://www.a11offense.com/
Keep on topic
Guys, let's keep it on topic. Suggesting that somebody doesn't "make sense" or "doesn't know about football" is not productive. Let's discuss the merits/demerits of the A-11, and perhaps other novelty offenses, why they work or don't work, etc.
Defense and clock.
Those were the big factors in the ASiJ Yokota game. Yokota scored on the opening kickoff, then ASIJ drove it down the field and scored on Hayman's touchdown. Yokota gets the ball and scores. ASIJ gets the ball and scores on a Alex Busam touchdown.
I was expecting a high scoring game after that happened, because both offenses seemed to moving the ball at will.
But after that, both defenses stepped it up. Yokota got one more score before halftime.
Second half, Yokota had a field goal, but ate up the clock, and didn't give ASIJ the time to make any sort of comeback.
This game should've had a much higher score, and should've been closer than 24-14.
ASIJ's fumble on the 7 was particularly disappointing. And Yokota had two dropped interception.
Rookie also had a huge dropped pass that would've been a touchdown.
Both teams made a lot of mistakes, and it ended up being Yokota's ability to run the clock in the fourth quarter that sealed the game for them.
Props to ASIJ's defense for holding the Yokota offense to a field goal in the entire second half.
Props to Yokota's running game for being able to run the clock out.
Final Comment on A-11
If this offense is such a great idea, why is it not allowed in 10 states, the NCAA, and the NFL? Are they behind the times? No, it's a gimmick based on a loophole. It is not sound, fundamental football. Props to ASIJ for trying something new to win, and yes they have won some games with it.
You can't argue that ASIJ has small linemen and that's why they have to use it. Yokota's offensive line has NOBODY over 185 lbs. and they are normally the smallest line on the field, yet they win. Why is that? Proper coaching. If you're smaller than your opponent you rely on speed and technique (like cut blocking) to beat your opponent.
It's legal here.
"Not allowed" is hardly the point. According to the rule book the refs are using, it is allowed. I'm sure this is something the coaches have all looked into. If the rules change, the teams using the A- 11 will evolve. I assume the ASIJ coaches saw something innovative and thought it would work for their team.
And please explain 'sound, fundamental football'. It's an argument you are consistently using, yet it doesn't make sense in the context you're using it in. Doesn't the A - 11 rely on execution, proper blocking, etc. just as any other offense does? Does a team need to consistently be pulling guards or running dives to be considered 'fundamentally sound'? Perhaps the word you're looking for is 'unconventional'.
In the last twenty years, we've seen the West Coast Offense (in at least a half-dozen variations), the K-Gun, the Run & Shoot, the Greatest Show on Turf, and the (as yet unnamed) Indianapolis Colts offense. Each offensive innovation has, in turn, spurred a defensive countermeasure: the 46, the Tampa-2, the fire zone blitz, and a bewildering variety of other coverages and defensive schemes without any such names. All of these were innovative yet fell within the rules. The A - 11 is no different. Try some new material.
A-11
In my opinion I think that the A-11 offense is completely sick. This is the turning point in football history and if this formation is approved in all states then it would revolutionalize the game. Sometimes you have holes in your offense and your line is not the best but having a quarterback 7 yards deep is just sick. You have defensive lineman working their hind parts silly for no reason becuase if the quarter back takes a 3 step drop then by time the defensive player gets there the ball is already 10 yards down the field and at a defensive stand point whose to blame? Not the defensive lineman.
A-11
I dislike the A-11 offense, first of all the outside reciever is covering the inside reciever making him inegible to go down field. I haven't seen the A-11 in action but i have seen pictures of the formation and teams lining up in it. If i wanted to use the A-11 i would have played flag football, passing skeletons, or 8 or 9 man football. This offense is yes "uncoventional" but it doesn't teach the high school players, the real way to play football. What happens when these players go to college and they line up in the wrong position and cover one of their inside recievers, coaches are going to say "where did you learn that garbage." I personally dont like it, however if it works so be it. Good luck to whoever decides to use the A-11, I just hope they never have to play or coach against me because there are many ways to shut that circus of an offense down.
Nice Wording
I like that "Circus of an offense."
Proof
I just got proof that the A-11 isnt all of that. 49 points scored for and 49 against in three games. That is 18 points a game. Not the high powered offense that is talked about. Maybe we need to talk about ASIJ's defense that is keeping them in games, cause there offense isnt putting up the big numbers that everyone thinks they are.
Update
ASIJ 38 - Kinnick 13
I have to hand it to ASIJ. They beat us good last night. Like or dislike the so called A-11, their blocking, passing and running sent us packing. It wasn't a gimmick to me. I talked to one of the ASIJ parents and found out that their stud running back and linebacker is out for the season with a broken ankle. Get 'em next year Devils.
what was that legend?
i think their performance against the red devils says enough about both the offense and the defense sir.
Whoopity Doo!
You beat the worst team in the league, pin a rose on your nose! You want another shot at Yokota? I don't blame you, but because your school chooses so, you don't play all the Kanto schools twice each time. Running from competition hurts on the off time you have a semi-decent team. Same thing happened a few years ago, you played Yokota well (still lost) but because of your school's decision no second chance.
If the A-11 is so great, can someone please answer why it's not allowed in 10 states? We won't even get into the college/pros argument.
Just Sad
Ghostwriter,
You sound like a broken record. Use the sense God gave you and discuss this with the officials or the Yokota coaches. If you're so offended by the A-11, convince them to protest the rule next year and to try to change the rule book. Yes, the same rule book used by all teams in the Kanto plain. Now you're bringing up past seasons? Pathetic. Quit trying to live your life vicariously through the kids and move on.
Keep on topic
Now, y'all. Don't be hatin'! I know everybody's passionate with their feelings about the merits (or demerits) on the A-11, but asides such as "running from competition" and "pathetic," and repeating old arguments, beat a dead horse and are not productive. Let's stick to the subject matter. Remember, you've entered THE "No-Hate Zone."