John F. Kennedy Islanders finish in first with championship win over ND

[December 20, 2025 – Harmon, Guam] Two second half goals from Landen Cruz secured a 3-1 victory for the John F. Kennedy High School Islanders in the championship match of the 2025-2026 Interscholastic Boys High School League Dec. 20 at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

The story below was written by Shania Bulala for Guam Sports Network:

The JFK Islanders captured the Interscholastic Boys Football League championship title on Saturday afternoon at the Guam Football Association field, earning a 3–1 victory over the Notre Dame Royals.

Islanders’ Landen Cruz powered the Islanders to the title with a pair of back-to-back goals, while Nehemiah “Juju” Nauta set the tone early with the opening goal.

First Half

The Islanders wasted no time asserting control by putting pressure on the Royals from the opening kickoff and testing their defense with multiple early shots on goal. Their persistence paid off when Islanders’ Nehemiah “Juju” Nauta capitalized on a breakaway opportunity, finishing cleanly to give the Islanders a 1-0 advantage.

Riding the momentum from Nauta’s opening goal, the Islanders continued to control the tempo for much of the first half. Despite the Islanders’ pressure, the Royals remained within striking distance, thanks to goalkeeper Kevin Dorinalla, who came up with several big saves.

As the half progressed, the Royals gradually progressed with their offense, finding openings and generating scoring opportunities of their own.

The match grew increasingly physical, prompting the referee to issue multiple yellow cards as both teams battled for control. Despite the rising tension, the Islanders closed the half with a slim 1–0 advantage over the Royals.

Second Half

The Islanders returned from the half in hopes of holding onto their lead. They pushed the pace through the midfield and kept the majority of the ball again in their offensive third. Despite the multiple on-goal shot attempts, the Royals’ defense did not falter as they managed to effectively defend their goal and keep the game within reach.

Momentum suddenly shifted when the Islanders’ goalkeeper was given a yellow card inside the goalie box, giving the Royals an opportunity for a penalty kick. Jace Almandres stepped up for the Royals and calmly slotted the ball in the back of the net, tying the match at 1–1 with just fifteen minutes left in the game.

“The pressure of the game being tied was actually good for the boys,” said Islanders’ Head Coach Patson Haimin. “This group has been together for a long time. Most of them have been playing together since their freshman year, and some have even competed at the international level. I knew they had the experience to respond in that moment and finish the job.”

Facing the pressure of a ticking clock, the Islanders did indeed react with precision. Islanders’ Landen Cruz surged through the Royals’ defense and buried a crucial goal to restore his team’s lead. Moments later, Cruz struck again, scoring back-to-back goals with ease to put the match out of reach and give the Islanders a commanding 3–1 advantage.

“It felt really good to score those two goals, but we had to really work for it.. It was not just handed to us,” said Cruz. “We put in the work, made the runs, and made the goals happen.”

From there, the Islanders managed to run down the remainder of the clock with confidence and close out the victory. Behind Cruz’s late surge and a complete team effort on both ends of the field, the Islanders capped their season with a championship, securing the league title with a memorable 3–1 win over the Royals.

“We approach every game with the same energy. We’ve been working hard the entire season. With this being the championship game, we knew the stakes were high but all our hard work has paid off,” said Cruz.