Jets bury Seahawks, 36 - 8

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Misawa's varsity football team Jets demolished the Yokosuka Seahawks, 36 - 8, at Hillside Stadium, July 10.

The win marked the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League North Division playoff opener while eliminating the Seahawks from contention.

The Jets drew first blood in the second quarter after Jets Reid Merriewether, intercepted the ball grating his team perfect field position. Quarterback Travis Haywood drove 10 yards for a red-zone touchdown. Jets wide receiver Justin Hampton added 2 points on a conversion, giving the Jets an early lead, 8 - 0.

The Seahawks struck back after a pass interference call from allowed them to gain 18 yards and a new set of downs, which Seahawk Terrell Bennett was easily able to exploit for a touchdown drive. Lorenz Piper's two-point conversion run tied the game, 8 - 8.

With a minute and 40 seconds left in the second quarter, Haywood pierced the Seahawk defense with a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rick Gennie. Haywood then completed a 2-point conversion pass to his got-to wide receiver Hampton, giving the Jets a 16 - 8 cushion going into halftime.

The Jets continued the streak in the third quarter leaving the Seahawks speechless after defensive back Brian Ashworth returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, propelling the Jets' lead, 22 - 8.

Further wounding the Seahawks, wide receiver Benjamin Valenzuela ran more than 50 yards scoring a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The Jets racked up an additional two points, extending their lead, 30 - 8.

The Jets dropped the fatal bomb on the Seahawks late in the fourth quarter with Hampton catching another touchdown pass ending the game, 36 - 8.

"It's one of those things where it took a little bit for our guys to figure out that we were in a ball game up through halftime," said Jets first-year coach Ben Mathe. "We woke'em up with some motivation at half, and they came out and played real Jets' football in the second half."

With this elimination win, the Jets are scheduled to face the North regular-season champion Warriors at Yokota Air Base July 17.

"These guys are great, and they really played hard," Coach Mathe added. "We are coming for ya Yakota."