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By Jesse Pinkston Santos
Nothing like starting the homecoming game with an 85-yard touchdown kickoff return by the Islanders’ Ivan Quidachay. Although that was not the tempo the entire game, the JFK Islanders improved to 5-1, winning 14-6 in IIAAG football action over the winless Southern Dolphins Saturday night.
In this all-out defensive battle, the second score for the Islanders came in the third quarter as quarterback Quintin Iriarte gracefully handed the ball off to junior fullback Sage Garcia for a 3-yard touchdown run.
“We were having a good drive and my coach called [a play], it was wide open and I just ran into the end zone. A lot of credit to my line and team,” stated Garcia.
The only score for the Dolphins came soon after JFK’s second touchdown. It began on the 40-yard line with quarterback Keanu Diego completing a long, beautiful pass to Napu Topasna, putting them on JFK’s 18-yard line. Tyler Topasna then powered down the left side of the field for the 18-yard touchdown run. Southern attempted a two-point try up the middle but failed to convert.
Once again the Islanders were plagued with penalty after penalty. Each team only had one first down the entire first half of play. Not to mention, in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, a kickoff return touchdown by Leo Diaz was called back due to an illegal block. Also in the fourth quarter, players from JFK and Southern were ejected due to unsportsmanlike conduct.
Offensive coordinator Mike Pangelinan commented, “Every practice we instill mental training and a lot of times we don’t do a lot of drills, we do more mental drills… get them frustrated. You can honestly try your best to prepare the team but what happens on the field we can’t control. It always falls to the coaches’ responsibilities. I think we just need to better prepare them.”
First quarter action, Southern’s Derin Duenas was charging up the middle, breaking tackles right up the middle when Islanders safety, senior Jaron Weibacher literally ran up and took the ball away from him, putting JFK back on Southern’s 35-yard line.
“Coach always tells us if they are standing up, just run in there. Someone has to strip the ball. I saw [Duenas] holding the ball pretty loose so I went in and took it. Then I just ran. I tried to get a touchdown but I got tackled.”
Kamron Prewett-Tenorio of Southern gets swarmed by Islanders immediately after leaving the pocket. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)
JFK failed to score after a big sack by Ryan Duenas, forcing them to punt. Late in the first quarter, Dolphin Dyllan Tenorio blocked a punt which gave Southern great field advantage however linebacker Garcia was right there, intercepted the ball on their 10-yard line and marched up the field for a 24-yard gain.
“Our coaches always force us that when we see a pass to make sure to drop back to your 45 degree angle and the ball was right there and I just ran. Once I got the interception I was just thinking about scoring a touchdown but of course that doesn’t always happen. I tried my best to score,” said Garcia.
Nearing the end of the game, Weibacher intercepted once again, this time at midfield and brought the ball down to Southern’s 21. Weilbacher commented, “Coaches always tell me to get at the high point because they have pretty good verticals so I just saw it in the air and went up and got it. I tried to break one [tackle] to take it to the house but people kept missing their blocks but that’s alright.”
Although JFK got the ball back, it was short lived as Napu Topasna grabbed a beautiful spiraling ball from Iriarte. Southern moved the ball quickly down the field with under a minute to play but was not able to get in the endzone. Even though they remain winless, they are a hard-hitting, aggressive team who should not be taken for granted.
Coach Pangelinan said, “It’s a good win for the guys. Southern is a really strong team, we knew they were going to come out strong, we never took them lightly. It’s a good turnaround for the guys but it’s not the win we want but we will take it.
JFK has a bye next week and Southern will host Guam High on Saturday at 3 pm.
Other Game
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
The JFK Islanders storm through their banner and onto the field to start their homecoming game against the Southern High Dolphins. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)
Danon Mojica of the Islanders tries to shake off a Dolphin after gaining a few yards in the first quarter. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)
Islander, Danon Mojica, goes down after gaining some big yards on the play. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)
Islander Nolan Chamberline gets slammed down by a Dolphin after picking up some rushing yards. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)
Nolan Chamberline hands the ball off to Danon Mojica for a run play up the middle. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)
DID U KNOW?
Frank ‘The Crank’ Camacho was a competitive youth golfer in Saipan with dreams of making it to the PGA.
QUICK HITS
(AP/Carlos Osorio)
