All Mitsubishi, IBM collide with Rice Bowl tournament position on the line

The All Mitsubishi Lions (2-2) and IBM Big Blue (2-2) meet Saturday at Fujitsu Stadium Kawasaki in a pivotal X League Premier matchup between two teams trying to strengthen their position in the race for the Rice Bowl tournament.

With identical records, neither side has much room to give away. All Mitsubishi sits sixth while IBM is eighth, and the schedule makes this one particularly important for the Lions. After Saturday, they face Obic, Fujitsu and Panasonic in succession.

Lions lean on Irons and Malcome

The Lions come in with plenty of firepower behind quarterback DeMarcus Irons Jr. and running back Isaiah Khalil Malcome.

Irons was sharp in All Mitsubishi’s 48-21 win over the SEKISUI Challengers, completing 14 of 16 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns while running for another 54 yards and a score. Malcome ripped through SEKISUI for 100 yards on just six carries and also caught a touchdown pass.

The Lions repeatedly broke loose on the ground in that victory, with Malcome and Tetsuya Nakano helping them take control before halftime. That running game figures to be central again Saturday.

Masamoto looks to keep IBM moving

With Jiya Wright no longer on the fall roster, Yuki Masamoto becomes even more important to the IBM offense.

Masamoto showed what he can do in the Big Blue’s 41-19 loss to the Fujitsu Frontiers. With IBM trailing 21-7, he went after the Fujitsu secondary and twice found Reece Horn for touchdowns, pulling the Big Blue within 21-19 late in the third quarter.

Masamoto finished 21 of 31 for 257 yards and two touchdowns, while Horn hauled in nine passes for 144 yards and both scores.

Ground game could decide it

Both teams have shown they can move the ball on the ground, making the battle up front a major part of Saturday’s matchup. All Mitsubishi ranks third in average rushing production, with IBM fourth.

For the Lions, controlling the game with Malcome would keep pressure off Irons and allow an offense averaging a league-best 27.3 points per game to dictate the pace.

For the Big Blue, the challenge is just as clear: slow that ground attack, keep Masamoto in rhythm and avoid falling behind.

With both teams sitting at 2-2 and the Rice Bowl tournament race tightening, Saturday’s meeting has the feel of a game neither can afford to let slip away.