Football

TITLE REMATCH GAMES START 2025 YOUTH FOOTBALL SEASON

Angels redeem championship losses to Outlaws

by
GSPN
June 7, 2025

By Paradis Jolie Fejerang

The long-awaited first game weekend of the 2025 Triple J GNYFF Youth Football League Guam proved to be filled with learning moments as the young athletes find their footing again.

With the featured game at the Hal Shiroma Field, Angels versus Outlaws, being a hot topic in the local community, the two major rivals in the league, especially for the older Matua Division, as the Outlaws closed out last season as the champions and came back hoping to defend their title.

Players of the Game: Kaden Medler and Justice Alcantara

Unfortunately for the Outlaws, the Angels ended the game day with a winning score of 18-0. The Angels almost cleared with wins from their Mandikiki team and Metgot team, who ended the game 32-13, but the Manha Angels lost to the Outlaws 26-7.

Leading the Matua Angels are a couple of standouts who have been ones to watch for the past couple of seasons – 14 year olds Justice Alcantara and Kaden Medler. The two had to bring their team together on a wet (but still hot) field and pull through as many plays as they could despite many of their teammates seeming to be still getting over the nerves of the first game of the season.

Despite their win, the duo recognizes that the Outlaws were playing a defensive game that had the Angels struggling and really showed through the slow start the the boys in blue had and they ended up shifting focus to just driving the ball as much as they could no matter what – especially with a soggy playing ground that made movement difficult. Thankfully, the first half ended with the Angels up 6-0, though their emotions were getting the better of both teams as they came in for the second.

While the Angels were falling short defensively when it came to their line blocking and tackling, what they were able to take advantage of were the penalties caused by the Outlaws. With every mistake their opponents made, the Angels used it to their benefit and drove seemingly endlessly hoping they could make it to score.

Knowing that the team was not at their best, Alcantara recognized his best plays in running hand-offs to the right side and getting as much as 25 yards. Meanwhile, Medler was doing his best to run the Angel offense to keep these plays as successful as possible since he could tell some of his peers were lost and it was keeping the Outlaws holding his team down.

Both boys, along with Coach Buzzy Shiroma, know the upcoming week is going to involve hard practices to improve the mistakes of their Angels as they prepare to meet the Crusaders next weekend.

What do they think they need to fix? “Not knowing where to go,” Medler sighs as he explains the simple game knowledge he knows they all need to study up on. “Some people did not even know their positions.”

Concurrently, Alacantara agrees and adds on the effects of your personal feelings on the game. “Some people were not controlling their emotions and it showed on the field through the flags we got. Everyone was getting mad, but we just have to cool ourselves.”

Even Coach Buzzy is adamant that the team has no choice but to learn from their mistakes if they want to keep winning as he noted that despite their mistakes from today, their opponents are good. “The Outlaws can play better, so we are both in the same boat,” he stated. “We are going to work this week…I have got to feel better [when we play the Crusaders] than I did today.”

Regardless, Alcantara and Medler are both confident in their team’s ability and see that it is not only possible for them to take back the championship title for the Angels, but also get there with an undefeated season.