Japan: Obic Seagulls clinch sixth straight Pearl Bowl in dramatic finish

The Obic Seagulls extended their dynasty with a 34-28 victory over the Nojima Sagamihara Rise in the 45th Pearl Bowl at Fujitsu Stadium Kawasaki, surviving a fierce second-half rally to secure their sixth consecutive Pearl Bowl title behind quarterback Pierce Holley’s 338-yard aerial showcase.

Holley’s early mastery builds cushion
Obic dominated the first half, with Holley threading a 19-yard touchdown to Kotaro Hironaga and unleashing a 70-yard bomb to Jamal Watanabe. Running back Ryohei Nagao gashed Nojima’s defense for a 25-yard rushing score, while kicker Joji Yamazaki drilled field goals of 30 and 55 yards. The Seagulls entered halftime up 24-3, capitalizing on Nojima’s early struggles.

Nojima’s valiant comeback effort
Nojima quarterback Kurt Palandech ignited a rally with a trick-play touchdown in the third quarter, connecting with Tay Cunningham before laterals to Masayasu Ito and Philip Redwine capped the score. Palandech added two fourth-quarter strikes to Sho Yoshizawa, trimming Obic’s lead to 31-28. However, Obic’s defense stiffened, forcing a critical three-and-out late, and Yamazaki’s 55-yard field goal with 4:59 remaining iced the game.

Defensive stands define championship grit
Cornerback Satoru Takahashi’s 26-yard interception halted Nojima’s momentum in the third quarter, while Obic’s front seven limited Nojima to 3.8 yards per carry. Linebacker Yudai Aratake anchored the unit with three tackles, stifling Nojima’s ground attack.

Legacy-sealing performances
Holley’s 17/30 passing and Watanabe’s 161 receiving yards earned co-MVP honors, while Yamazaki’s flawless kicking (2/2 FGs, 4/4 PATs) proved decisive. Nojima’s Palandech tallied three touchdowns, and Yoshizawa’s eight catches for 112 yards showcased his reliability.

The Seagulls’ sixth straight title cements their status as one of Japan’s premier football dynasties, while Nojima’s gritty effort signals their ascent as a contender.

Source: XLeague.jp