Dave Ornauer

Pacific SportsBlog

Okinawa-based sports reporter Dave Ornauer on military-related sports in the Far East.

Seahawk gridders improve to 2-0; Kadena next?

Posted June 9th, 2008 by Dave Ornauer
in

It's a matchup two years in the making. The Yokosuka Seahawks, seven-time U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League champions, are off to a 2-0 start this season and are set to host the two-time Okinawa Football League champion Kadena Dragons on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Yokosuka's Berkey-by-the-Bay.

It should be an interesting matchup of championship teams. Not for spots in the USFJ-AFL standings -- Kadena plays the three USFJ-AFL members as an exhibition entry -- but for bragging rights between the regions.

Kadena last visited the Kanto Plain in 2006, when the Dragons outscored Yokota and Atsugi by a combined 80-0.

Yokosuka thus far this season has outscored opponents 66-6 and has forced 11 turnovers and recorded seven sacks on defense.

It's the opener of an ironman tour for the Dragons, who also play Yokota on Friday at Yokosuka and travel to Misawa to visit the Jets on Sunday. The USFJ-AFL teams are due to reciprocate and travel to Okinawa later this summer.

I just read the article

On June 14th, 2008 DJLaz29 says:

I just read the article about the Dragons loss at Yokosuka...its tough news, but this ball game had been in the works for a few years now. I'm glad that it finally happened. Even though Kadena only traveled with 16 players…they made the trip and I know there are guys that would probably be willing to swim to the mainland just to play. It’s a proven fact that Kadena is willing to travel to get a ballgame in. I hope the mainland teams will reciprocate with a trip down to Okinawa. I just remember back in 06, games were scheduled and mainland teams were supposed to come down. We painted the lines on Mike Petty field, had our pre game walk through, only to hear a few hours later that there was a “transportation problem” . There was alaways some sort of "issue" preventing those guys from coming down to play. Hopefully that isn’t the case this year. Good luck fellas…have fun! GO DRAGONS.

Re: I just read the article

On June 14th, 2008 Dave Ornauer says:

Eric: Good to hear from you. Somehow, I suspect the trip to Kanto was more than just about wins and losses: Kadena wants a return to full-fledged league play, and with the OFL now a distant memory, maybe one of the USFJ-AFL's charter members might have a spot back in the league, by next year at the earliest.

Resilience/flexibility is the key

On July 11th, 2008 Morris A Simms says:

It is great to see that the desire for Okinawa's gridders to play in the USFJ-AFL still exists! As the coach for the former Okinawa Giants, I know there is a lot of pride that factors in when it comes to dealing with travel and other logistical issues. Hang in there Dragons! Your efforts are not unnoticed.

Morris Simms
Head Coach, Okinawa Giants 2001