Japan: Fujitsu avenges regular season loss, tops Nojima 42-28 to advance to semifinals

The Fujitsu Frontiers gained a measure of revenge and secured a semifinal berth by defeating the Nojima Sagamihara Rise 42-28 in a high-scoring XLeague playoff clash.

Offensive explosion

From the opening drive, the Fujitsu offense was in sync and virtually unstoppable. Quarterback Tsubasa Takagi put on a masterclass, completing 25 of 29 passes for 274 yards and five touchdowns. His connection with receiver Samajie Grant was particularly devastating, as Grant hauled in nine catches for 83 yards and three touchdowns. The scoring started early with a 4-yard toss to Genta Shibata, and Takagi continued to spread the wealth, finding Riki Matsui for a 37-yard score. Matsui finished as the game’s leading receiver with 99 yards. The ground game also contributed, with Takaki Miyake rushing for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Nojima’s valiant comeback attempt

Despite falling behind early, the Nojima Sagamihara Rise refused to go away quietly. Quarterback Kurt Palandech put up impressive numbers in the losing effort, completing 37 of 57 passes for 356 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding 49 rushing yards and another score on the ground. His favorite target was Tay Cunningham, who racked up 148 receiving yards and a touchdown. The Rise chipped away at the lead throughout the second half, but every time they scored, the Frontiers had an answer to maintain a comfortable cushion.

A semifinal date set

The victory was sweet revenge for Fujitsu, who had lost to Nojima by a single point during the regular season. More importantly, it books their ticket to a highly anticipated semifinal rematch against the Panasonic Impulse, a replay of last season’s Rice Bowl championship game. The win showcased Fujitsu’s offensive firepower and efficiency, which they will need to carry into their next matchup against the defending champions. For Nojima Sagamihara, the season ends despite a courageous offensive performance that simply couldn’t overcome their early deficit.

Source: XLeague