Japan: Fujitsu Frontiers need late game rally to defeat Sekisui Challengers

The Fujitsu Frontiers (5-1) erased a fourth-quarter deficit and held off the Sekisui Challengers (0-5-1) 20-17 Sunday in Kawasaki, surviving a 318-yard passing day from Garrett Safron to pick up their fifth win of the X League Premier season.

The Challengers outgained Fujitsu 348-299 and controlled much of the afternoon, but the Frontiers delivered when the game was on the line.

Challengers strike first

Sekisui grabbed the early advantage after an interception ended Fujitsu’s opening drive. Safron moved the Challengers down the field and hit Boogie Knight for a 19-yard touchdown to put Sekisui in front.

The Frontiers answered early in the second quarter. Tsubasa Takagi found Koki Miyake for 29 yards to move the ball to the eight, and Miyake finished the drive by bursting into the end zone to tie it 7-7.

Koji Nosho’s 40-yard field goal put Fujitsu ahead before Toshiki Sato answered from 42 yards, sending the teams into halftime tied 10-10.

Sekisui retakes control

Safron came out firing after the break. Sekisui chewed up 78 yards on a 13-play drive before Safron found Sorato Ohtani from 24 yards out for a touchdown and a 17-10 lead.

Safron finished 27 of 35 for 318 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Boogie Knight hauled in 10 passes for 123 yards, while Ohtani caught five for 73 yards and a score.

Nosho’s 19-yard field goal pulled the Frontiers within 17-13 heading into the fourth.

Miyake sparks the comeback

Fujitsu finally found the opening it needed early in the fourth. Miyake ripped off a 42-yard run and raced all the way to the Sekisui four. A penalty pushed the Frontiers backward, but Takagi answered by firing a 13-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Barker to put Fujitsu ahead 20-17.

Miyake finished with 62 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Masanari Kagawa led the Frontiers with 81 yards on 11 attempts. Takagi completed 15 of 24 passes for 155 yards and the winning touchdown, with Kazuki Kimura catching seven passes for 78 yards.

Frontiers finish the job

Sekisui wasn’t finished. Safron drove the Challengers from their own 10 deep into Fujitsu territory, but the Frontiers forced and recovered a fumble at their own 18 with 5:44 remaining.

That was the opening Fujitsu needed. The Frontiers kept the ball for virtually the rest of the game, grinding away the clock and protecting their three-point lead to escape with their fifth victory of the season.