Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan -- The Matthew C. Perry High School Samurai football team played the Yokota High School Panthers at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 22, 2016.
Both undefeated in Division II Japan, the Samurai (5-1) faced off against the Panthers (4-1) during their homecoming game where the winner became the Division II Japan champions.
M.C. Perry dropped their football program in 2004 and are in their third year of varsity after restarting the program in 2014.
“We are relatively new to this program . . . this is our third year since our reboot,” said Frank Macias, the Samurai’s head coach. “Beating Yokota is a big deal because they have dominated for so many years and their coach is great. We have outscored Division II opponents 210-25 and are excited about the challenge.”
The Samurai, a power run oriented team, lead the Panthers 32-6 at halftime.
“We continue doing what we do,” said Macias. “We are a ground and pound team. What we do is not hard to figure out, it’s just hard to stop and we continue perfecting what we do. I have been coaching high school since 1998 and this is the most enjoyable team I have ever coached.”
At the end of the fourth quarter, the Samurai beat the Panthers 52-19 during their homecoming game, also making them the Division II Japan champions.
“Beating Yokota was perfect,” said Caeleb Ricafrente, a running back and safety with the Samurai. “Yokota has always beaten us and this was a good opportunity to get over that hump with the added pressure of homecoming. This team has been to the championship before so winning was a good feeling.”
The M.C. Perry Samurai will host the Humphreys High School Blackhawks from U.S. Army Garrison, Camp Humphreys, Korea, the Division II Korea champions during the Far East Division II Championship on Nov. 5, 2016.