Zama faces a difficult challenge to repeat the last two years
Senior Geovanni Joell is being asked to step into the shoes of two retired receivers from the 2023 Zama football team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Fourth in a series of DODEA Pacific high school football previews.
CAMP ZAMA, Japan – After a 14-game winning streak and a narrow loss in the Far East Division II soccer final last October, Zama is essentially on the verge of a fresh start.
Six key players have graduated. The starting quarterback has moved to Germany. The Trojans’ squad only had 24 names at training on Monday. And they are about to embark on their earliest away tour in living memory. The season begins on Friday at Robert D. Edgren.
“We have to adapt our approach to the personnel we have,” coach Scott Bolin said of a relatively young group that may need some time to master the intricacies of Bolin’s spread-run-pass-option attack.
“Maybe we need to emphasize some things more than others,” Bolin said. “It depends on how much they can handle and how much they can execute well.”
While there are some returning veterans, they will replace several key faces that led Zama to its seventh appearance in the Far East D-II championship game, three of them with wins.
Adrian Santiago-Cruz takes over the quarterback position from Will Schmiedel, who transferred to Ramstein. Santiago-Cruz is a senior but new to Zama football.
Geovanni Joell, another senior, has the difficult task of filling the shoes of receivers Jeremiah Georges and Keahnu Araki. Two interior players return: senior linebacker Ayden Moore and junior offensive lineman Jacob Van Sickle.
“Some key positions are still filled,” Bolin said. It’s a question of how well that knowledge and experience can be spread throughout the team, especially among the newcomers.
The Trojans have a few weeks off after the trip to Misawa to evaluate their performance against the Eagles.
If everything goes well, “we can make the playoffs,” Bolin said of the D-II semifinals, which are scheduled for the weekend of October 18-19.
But come to the championship game scheduled for October 25th?
“This is a more difficult task,” Bolin said. “But we have a strong chance.”
Starting quarterback Adrian Santiago-Cruz is a senior but new to Zama football. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
With only 24 players on the roster and the loss of seven key starters, Scott Bolin knows that rebuilding Zama’s football team will be no walk in the park. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
ZAMA TROJAN
Season record 2023 — 7-1 overall, lost 14-0 to the American School In Japan in the D-II final.
Head Coach — Scott Bolin, eighth season (11th year with program).
Championships — Far East Division II title in 2009, 2012 and 2019. Shared Kanto Plain title with American School In Japan in 1994. Won DODEA Japan title in 2009 and 2022.
Returning players — 8.
Returning Starters — 8.
Top performers — Adrian Santiago-Cruz, Sr., QB; Geovanni Joell, Sr., WR; Ayden Moore, Sr., LB; Chris Jones, Sr., CB; Jacob Van Sickle, Jr., OL; Isaiah Segarra, Sr., LB-RB-WR.
Strengths — Strong defense. Four of five starters return on the interior, both guards, both tackles.
Strengths — Commitment of the players, continuity in the championship. A handful of veterans are still there from the last two seasons, when the Trojans won 14-1 overall.
Disadvantages – Youth and lack of depth. The loss of starting quarterback Will Schmiedel (transfer) will hurt.
Overview – Rebuilding. The numbers just aren’t there and six key starters from last season have graduated and another has transferred. Some key players remain, but it’s about staying healthy and working the new additions into the game plan.
schedule
Friday, August 23
Zama at Robert D. Edgren
Friday, September 13
Zama by Nile C. Kinnick
Friday, September 20
Zama in Yokota
Friday, September 27
Matthew C. Perry at Zama
Saturday, October 5
Osan near Zama
Friday, October 11
Edgren at Zama
Postseason
Semifinal
Friday, October 18 – Saturday, October 19
Third place in second place
Fourth place in first place
championship
Friday, October 25
Winner of the semi-final
