The Obic Seagulls (7-0) remained perfect in the X League Premier on Sunday, turning three turnovers into another convincing victory with a 34-7 win over the SEKISUI Challengers (0-6-1) at Tsurumi Ryokuchi Stadium in Osaka.
Obic outgained SEKISUI 374-192 and completely shut down the Challengers’ ground game, holding them to minus-16 rushing yards. The Seagulls also controlled the ball for more than 28 minutes and converted eight of 15 third downs.
Turnovers open the door
The Challengers initially moved the ball effectively, but their first promising possession ended when Garrett Safron was stripped. SEKISUI then fumbled an Obic punt, giving the Seagulls possession at the Challengers’ 27.
Pierce Holley made them pay, finding Tay Cunningham for a six-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Shinnosuke Nakai extended the advantage with a 47-yard field goal before Naoyuki Higuchi intercepted Safron. Three plays later, Cunningham scored again, this time on a two-yard run. Nakai’s 43-yard field goal sent Obic into halftime ahead 20-0.
Seagulls pull away
Obic put together its best sustained drive in the third quarter, marching 84 yards in eight plays. Ryohei Nagao finished it with a 15-yard touchdown run to make it 27-0.
Nagao led the Seagulls with 77 yards on 10 carries, while Cunningham was the game’s leading receiver with seven catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. Holley completed 15 of 28 passes for 227 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Holley’s second touchdown pass came early in the fourth when he connected with Shunto Mizoguchi from 32 yards for a 34-0 lead.
Challengers avoid the shutout
SEKISUI Challengers WR Boogie Knight goes up to haul in a pass against the Obic Seagulls. © X LEAGUE
SEKISUI finally broke through when Safron found Boogie Knight for a 35-yard touchdown. Safron finished with 208 yards passing but was intercepted once, lost a fumble and endured six Obic sacks.
Knight caught five passes for 67 yards and the lone Challengers touchdown.
For the Seagulls, the formula remained brutally effective: protect the football, punish mistakes and let one of the league’s toughest defenses do the rest. At 7-0, Obic’s unbeaten run continues.