Kadena's Adam Santana, Richard Gantz and Braylon Stephens go through a dive tackle drill. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Second in a series of preseason previews detailing DODEA-Pacific football teams.
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa – Outfitted in a helmet and pads for the first time since practice began Aug. 4, Braylon Stephens confessed to being a tad hot and quite nervous.
The senior lineman transferred over the summer from Matthew C. Perry, where he and the Samurai finished second in the Far East Division II football title chase. Now, he’s joined a Kadena team that also finished second, in last October’s Division I final, 13-0 at Kubasaki.
“I’m excited for the season,” Stephens said Friday, minutes before he and the Panthers took the field for their first full-contact practice session.
“It’s hot, though. I’ve gotten used to it the first few days. I was nervous going up to Division I and I’m nervous for today, but I’m always nervous before hitting,” Stephens said.
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