It wasn't easy, but the Yokosuka Seahawks punched their ticket for a berth in Saturday's U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League Torii Bowl at Misawa.
Special teams and defense did the trick. Two blocked punts set up touchdown runs by Lorenz Piper, while the Seahawks forced five Yokota turnovers and Delrick "Tractor" Traylor recorded 2 1/2 sacks as Yokosuka downed the Warriors 14-6 in Saturday's semifinal at Yokosuka's Berkey-by-the-Bay.
Yokosuka won its three previous Torii Bowl showdowns with Misawa, but all came at home. This is the first time the Seahawks must battle on the road in the Torii Bowl. History is square in the host Jets' corner; every last USFJ-AFL title game has been won by the home team.
Who will capture this one? Let's hear it. But before you post, this reminder: Show your team spirit, but stay on topic, avoid personalities and watch what you say. Remember, you've entered THE "No-Hate Zone." *smile*
Join Dave on Facebook
Way to battle
Hawk Family,
That was a great game last night, and I am really excited about this week. We had fun last night for the first time in a while, and it showed. We made some mistakes that we can fix, and we know what the score could have been. It doesn't matter right now, because we got the W. I'm proud of you guys for sticking with it, and I can't wait to fight another week with you. It's all about US. No one else. See ya at practice... everyone limping and bruised. Hahahha.
Sam
Good job Yokosuka. I wanted
Good job Yokosuka. I wanted 2 play yall anyway!!!!!! True, it would have been nice if Yokota would have stumped a mud hole in yall, but I'm glad that we get 2 face yall again!!!! All I can say is, "Welcome 2 DA Terrordome!!!"
If you all really want to win like that...... Congrats
If the Yokosuka warriors except that game as an exceptional win on Saturday than congratulations. But with that being said there is no way you all are going to go up to Misawa and win performing like that. The refs won that game for you... bottom line. They took two touchdowns off the board a two point conversion and a safety and you all are satisfied with a 14-6 win. You are right you all blocked almost every punt on Saturday and the ones that were not blocked went for maybe 5 yards. The Seahawks definatley won the game of field position but we were'nt really worried because your offense could do nothing against our D. Your Redzone percentage was probably less than 20% considering the fact you all blocked all of those punts. Yokota more than doubled your total offense and I doubt you all had a play break for over ten yards. The refs won that game for you all and it is a shame a playoff game can be called like that. So if you all really except that win I hope you all dont go up to Misawa and do the same thing.
Poor loser
Mask,
The game is over, get over the loss. We have to turn our attention to other things. Maybe if you could have gotten the ball over the 50 at some point in the first half, you would have seen a better game. You guys traveled, and you fought a great game in the rain, and we respect you guys for the way you play. You could have mailed it in, but you didn't, and I have alot of respect for #23, #88... you didn't quit and I got some good aches and pains from those guys. The refs have nailed us over the passed games as well, so there's no excuses. It was a great game. You know it, I know it. Our offense ran all over you. It was wet, so the passing game took a back seat. Ya know what... the game is over. We again, really hope you guys get it back on track next year so we can keep this league going. I hope you all came out healthy, and we'll se ya next season.
Sam
OT#65
Victory
They say its hard to beat a team 3 times in a season, BUT, I've looked in the eyes of my Misawa brotha's and I see hunger, I've looked in the eyes of my Misawa brotha's and I see passion, I've been on the field with my Misawa brotha's and its our destiny, and we won't accept anything less.
Will we be cocky...yes, will we be brash...yes, will we be intense...you best believe it and know we gonna bring it ALL game!!!!!
AngerNFury
is it true?
Hawk,
Just want to know the truth........ no excuses, it's a yes or no question. Did two touchdowns, a safety and a two point conversion get called back?
True?
There were no touchdown's called back and certainly no safeties called back. We stopped you on the 2pt conversion. So to answer your question the answer is no.
Use that loss as motivation to come back strong next year and find a way to get games played at Yokota next year. How much better would you all have been if your home games would have been played at Yokota instead of Yokosuka? We have nothing but respect for you all.
Wow really.....
So the 50+ yard touchdown wherein the receiver hit the pyleon was not pulled out of the endzone and placed three yards deep? Or when your tailback got cracked in the endzone and coughed up the ball in the endzone the D recovers and the officials said his forward progress was stopped on the one yard line and the play was dead (even though the back never made it out of the endzone).....these are false statements. It is all good like you guys said nothing can be done to change the outcome of the game but the game was called in your advantage. And as for running all over our Defense you let me know of one time were you all had a play break for over ten yards. If you would have been running all over us the score would have reflected it because I dont know how many times you all started with the ball in the red zone. Yet you all produced little to no results. So foreal you all have the win but dont try to take away from us and say that we did not produce when it was the refs that put the dagger in us. But beleive we will be back next year and Lors willing we will have more than a handful of dedicated players. But good luck to all yall this coming weekend and I pray no one gets hurt. God Bless Mask
Championship Game
Congrads to both teams!! Both team deserve to be in maybe the last game played. It is a shame that they may end Varsity football because of their so called cost. I am here in Ramstein and ran into a fellow rival player from Yokota and we talked for thirty minutes or so reliving the dream. Bases can waste money away on programs for new carpeting in the club, new parking lot, or tens of thousands of dollars on plants that die in 4 months but don't affect quality of life for Seamen, Airman, and Soldiers. The teamwork, dedication, and commitment you give on the gridiron relates to your work centers and your overall well being. It gives the players something to look forward to instead of just going to work and trying to get hyped playing flag football with no contact. Some of the best memories and good friends of my AF career came because of those glory days representing the base. Injuries are always going to be there as with any sport. Basketball and softball create more trips to the hospital than does football statistically.
Marauders!!! Pull out Woody's Plank, Dan-o Dietz Kadena Giants helmet painted purple, and C-Dubbs gold facemask, and get ready for the battle to happen!!! Start spreading the word around the base and get the grill fired up on Marauder Hill with the Hill people, handing out fliers at the BX, AFN coverage and the base paper. Do this and you should be golden!!!!For me, I am going to go hit the sled just for old time sake!!!! Whose House!!!!!!!
B-Rad #69 "Blocking Technician" part of the Pancake Posse
Re: Championship Game
B-Rad, good to hear from you.
As was stated after the semifinal game Saturday, the Torii Bowl doesn't have to be the last interservice football game if the players and coaches don't want it to be.
Remember, the league was begun as a grass-roots effort by the players and coaches themselves, taking coin out of pocket and sweating, grunting and grinding only because of their love of the game.
The best way to ensure the game is NOT the last one ... is for both sides to play hard, leave it all on the field, with class and sportsmanship, gather for the Lord's Prayer at field center afterward, and for a typical Marauders-like crowd of 2,000, like in the 2005 championship game, to ring the field.
To paraphrase Jack Nicholson, if that game goes off that way, very quietly in places we don't hear or see, they'll come to the realisation that they WANT interservice football, they NEED interservice football.
It's still the great game, teams foisting that guidon and team colours to represent the base. It's something the elite athlete from the Air Force Academy can use to further his gridiron dreams. And it gives those 2,000 fans from 2005 something to do other than sit in front of the PlayStation or spend hours in the 12-ounce curl exercise room.
I, for one, can't wait for Saturday.
Please...
28,
We're praparing for a battle in Misawa, and this game is over. It was a great game in the rain, it defianately was a game I left knowing I physically couldn't do anymore, and we WILL bring that same intensity to Misawa on Saturday. Ok... the refs have done a number on us on this field too, so to say they cost you the game is ridiculous. Let's just say you get everything you say you had taken away... who is to say that the defense... the HAWK defense that held you to 12 points in two games, wouldn't have sacked your QB, caused HAVIC on your backfield, and sent your punter to the hospitol to make up for it? Who's to say our offense, who was able to keep the running game productive and draw you offsides wouldn't have driven on you and scored? I guess the offsides calls were wrong too? You do have a corp group of guys that I really hope come back. You guys have heart, and we all admire each other for our different skill sets. I hope I play against you again next year, because I know there will be a next year. All this talk about the league going away is just that. Talk. Keep the guys motivated, and try to stop us next year.
Sam
GAME PREVIEW
Dave,
Will you be doing a preview article for the league championship? This could help get the readers interested and it would be great for the league. Thanks.
Sam
Comments closed
Folks, for the second time, I'm forced to close comments to a particular blog post because the comments strayed off topic and became way too personal, and in two instances vulgar. I ask again -- stay on topic and avoid personalities. This is the "No-Hate Zone" for a reason. It's easy to play the blame game; it's harder to sit down and arrive at concrete solutions to concrete problems.