The Elecom Kobe Finies (1-1) overcame a second-half deficit to defeat the Fukuoka Suns (0-2) 47-27 at the Kurume Sports Center, unleashing a 31-point second-half outburst to secure their inaugural win of the X1 Super season.
Second-half explosion flips momentum
Trailing 20-16 early in the third quarter, the Finies erupted with four unanswered touchdowns. QB David Pindell’s 7-yard scoring run ignited the surge, followed by RB Reo Tanabe’s 48-yard breakaway TD and Teruto Tsurudome’s second rushing score (20 yards). The Finies outscored Fukuoka 31-7 in the final 25 minutes, capitalizing on a 323-31 rushing yard advantage.
Elecom Kobe Finies QB David Pindell Photo: XLeague
Ground dominance fuels comeback
Kobe’s backfield trio—Tsurudome (9 carries, 45 yards, 2 TDs), Tanabe (88 yards, 1 TD), and Daisuke Hirahara (118 yards)—wore down Fukuoka’s defense, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. The Finies totaled 323 rushing yards, with Hirahara’s 38-yard sprint setting up Pindell’s critical third-quarter score.
Uchida’s aerial spark
WR Daiki Uchida anchored the passing attack, hauling in a 50-yard TD from QB Shinohara Lu Weiren (6/9, 74 yards) to give Kobe a 13-0 second-quarter lead. Uchida finished with 109 receiving yards, while Pindell added 133 passing yards in relief.
Suns’ fleeting rally falls short
Fukuoka QB Atsuya Handa (15/31, 249 yards, 4 TDs) connected with Takato Ito (88 yards, 2 TDs) and Jiei Joshiro (30 yards, 2 TDs) to briefly lead 20-16. However, the Suns managed just 31 rushing yards and committed two turnovers, stalling their momentum.
Fukuoka Suns QB Atsuya Handa Photo: XLeague
Defensive adjustments seal win
Kobe’s defense clamped down after halftime, limiting Fukuoka to one fourth-quarter TD. LB Takuya Kawase (4 tackles) and DL Hirahara disrupted Handa’s rhythm, forcing six punts and a turnover on downs.
The Finies’ 47 points marked their highest output since joining the X1 Super, signaling a turnaround after an 0-1 start. Fukuoka, meanwhile, faces urgency to fix a porous run defense ahead of Week 3.
Source: XLeague