Humphreys’ JoJo Brinkerhoff dashes for the first of his two touchdowns, with Kadena’s Carson Kenderdine in pursuit. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa – Brian Taylor’s and JoJo Brinkerhoff’s stars shone brightly for Humphreys, boosting the Blackhawks back into the thick of the chase Friday for Far East Division I championship game space.
Taylor intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and caught a TD pass, while Brinkerhoff ran two reverses for long scoring runs as the Blackhawks spoiled Kadena’s homecoming, beating the Panthers 35-14.
With the win, the Blackhawks improved to 2-2, saddled Kadena with its second loss in four games and leaped into the driver’s seat for second spot in the D-I standings. The top two teams play in the title game Oct. 25. Each trails defending champion Kubasaki (3-0).
But Brinkerhoff said the Blackhawks aren’t taking anything for granted.
“We have to come back and bring the same energy, work as a team and execute” moving forward, Brinkerhoff said. The Blackhawks host the Panthers next Saturday at 6 p.m.
Big plays and takeaways spelled victory for Humphreys, which never trailed and took advantage of four Kadena turnovers, three of which led to Blackhawks touchdowns.
Kadena’s Hajime Reed squirms for yardage against Humphreys defenders John Campos and Dallas Hunter. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Humphreys’ Joshua Canion dashes upfield against Kadena’s defense. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Kadena’s Carson Kenderdine weaves his way between Humphreys defenders. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Humphreys’ JoJo Brinkerhoff breaks for the second of his two touchdowns, with Kadena’s Braylon Stephens in pursuit. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Brinkerhoff scored twice on a play the team calls Zip. On the third play, Brinkerhoff took a pitch from quarterback Bradley Miller, skirted the left side, broke two tackles and rambled into the end zone.
His second touchdown was more of the same, only this time from 46 yards out just 1:53 into the third period.
“I saw my people blocking downfield, I saw an opportunity to cut, saw some open space and I took off,” Brinkerhoff said of his two TD runs.
Taylor’s first touchdown came one play after the Panthers snapped the ball past the punter, setting the Blackhawks up at the Kadena 28. Bradley Miller passed to Taylor along the left sideline and he zig-zagged into the end zone 5:37 before halftime.
“I saw the running back get the block, I made a cut, got another block, made another cut and it was all green from there,” Taylor said.
As time ran out in the first half, Taylor picked off a Kadena pass, dashed toward the left sideline and ran untouched for 70 yards.
“As I got the pick, I saw green grass to the left and I turned on the jets,” Taylor said.
Joshua Canion scored Humphreys’ other touchdown, a 6-yard run with 8:27 left before the half.
Kadena answered Brinkerhoff’s first TD by driving 80 yards on 16 plays in 9:39, with Hajime Reed rushing 3 yards to knot it 7-7.
Hunter Swartz threw for the Panthers’ other touchdown, passing to left end Farid Goumondokye, who took the ball 36 yards for a score that made it 21-14 Humphreys. But it was all Blackhawks from there.
“It was a lot of mistakes and a lot of Humphreys came to play, and we didn’t come to play,” Panthers coach Sergio Mendoza said. “But we’re going to take this, learn from it and get better.”
Canion rushed for 109 yards on nine carries for Humphreys. Taylor racked up 123 all-purpose yards. Miller went an economical 3-for-4 for 47 yards, all to Taylor. John Campos recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass for the Blackhawks.
Reed ran for 90 yards on 15 carries before leaving early in the second half with an injury. Connor Shiflet and Daniel Dowadu each recovered fumbles for Kadena and A.J. Webster intercepted a Miller pass.