Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as Ornauer basks in the tropical air after 2 1/2 weeks in the mainland, and prepares for Far East championship week starting Saturday in Daegu:

-- Do they get any better than the last two weeks between Osan American and Daegu American? First, the Warriors very nearly fashion a comeback after trailing 28-14 on Oct. 24 at Osan; then, the seesaw affair that was Friday's 30-28 overtime victory that sealed Class A title-game host rights for Daegu.

-- Any wonder why the call the Warriors the Cardiac kids? They came from behind for four of their six victories this season, including Friday's game for the ages.

-- Each side had chances to win in the closing seconds. Daegu blocked a makeable Cougars field goal with half a minute left, then the Warriors drove to the Osan 2-yard line as time ran out.

-- Did losing Mike Gilliam to fourth-quarter injury doom Osan's chances? Didn't seem like it; Julius Johnson and Paul Snead more than carried the load, Snead tying it and Johnson giving Osan a short-lived lead in OT.

-- Antoine "Flash" Feagin. Three touchdown runs. Three two-point conversion runs. Including the game-tying TD and winning two-pointer in OT. Who'dya think Zama American's defensive coaches plan to key on during Saturday's Class A title game?

-- Likewise, Typhoon ORNY will bet the house that Daegu's defensive staff will throw everything including the kitchen sink at Zama American's Michael Spencer.

-- But both sides better also look out for falling rocks in the form of quarterback play -- Zama's Mike Jorgenson and Daegu's Trey Griffen can get it done under center.

-- Cory Peckins, a former Cougar who transferred to Zama over the summer, made no secret that he wanted to play Osan in the Class A title game. I'm sure any disappointment is muted by the fact that he's playing in the title game for a second straight year, period.

-- Elijah Gamble, 185 yards on 40 carries. The guy never quits.

-- Kinnick was perhaps the best 1-8 team I've seen in a long while.

-- How good was Jorgenson? 6-for-10, 108 yards and a 42-yard touchdown pass to Matt Cole.

-- Now, it's official -- Zama is DODEA Japan champion for the first time in school history. It's the Trojans' first outright football title since the Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools went to its current four-team, double round-robin format in 1973. Zama shared the Kanto title with American School In Japan in 1994.

-- Now, it's official Part II -- ASIJ is definitely, without reservation or qualification, the gen-yoo-wyne Kanto Plain champion for 2009. The Mustangs' first outright league title since 1983.

-- That Hayden Jardine was beasting at QB for ASIJ -- 13-for-21, 226 yards and two touchdowns. In his last three games, the sophomore was 31-for-50 for 535 yards and seven touchdowns. And he's not going anywhere. Perhaps the league's best pure passer since Tom Siegmann at Yokota in 1986.

-- Well, the "Three Caballeros" and Guam High's dream of its first island title was shattered by Will Williams and Father Duenas Memorial. But that's the beauty of football for the Panthers; They have a second title to chase, starting with Tuesday's semifinal against Seoul American at Mike Petty Stadium on Okinawa.

-- 112 days. :)