Fujitsu Frontiers pull away from IBM Big Blue behind explosive second half
The Fujitsu Frontiers (4-1) broke open a tight game with three unanswered touchdowns and pulled away from the IBM Big Blue (2-2) for a 41-19 victory Sunday in Chiba, handing IBM its second loss of the XLeague Premier season.
IBM keeps Frontiers within reach
The Frontiers built a 21-7 advantage, but IBM refused to let the game get away.
Quarterback Yuki Masamoto went after the Fujitsu secondary and repeatedly found Reece Horn. The pair connected for two touchdowns as IBM fought all the way back to 21-19 late in the third quarter.
Masamoto finished 21 of 31 for 257 yards and two touchdowns, while Horn turned in a huge afternoon with nine receptions for 144 yards and both scores.
Kimura flips the game
Just when IBM had dragged itself within two points, Kazuki Kimura changed the afternoon in one play.
Kimura took the ensuing kickoff and raced 99 yards for a touchdown, immediately restoring Fujitsu’s cushion and swinging the momentum back to the Frontiers.
From there, Tsubasa Takagi and the offense took over.
Takagi fired touchdown passes on each of Fujitsu’s next two possessions as the Frontiers turned a 21-19 battle into a comfortable 41-19 victory.
The Fujitsu quarterback completed 21 of 34 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns, with tight end Daniel Barker doing most of the damage.
Fujitsu Frontiers TE Daniel Barker was named Game MVP after a 3-touchdown performance. Photo: ©X LEAGUE
Barker dominates through the air
Barker hauled in five passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns, earning game MVP honors. Samajie Grant added five catches for 76 yards, while Koki Miyake led the ground attack with 70 yards on seven carries and also caught a touchdown pass.
Former All-Europe linebacker AJ Wentland led the IBM defense with seven tackles, while Yuho Tamagawa added six.
For IBM, the loss snapped a two-game winning streak after the Big Blue had battled back into position to challenge late in the third quarter.
But Kimura’s 99-yard return changed everything. Fujitsu never gave IBM another opening, scoring 20 unanswered points to close the game and improve to 4-1.
