Japan: Panasonic Impulse roll past Fujifilm Ebina Minerva 33-0 before thunder ends game early

The Panasonic Impulse (3-2) overwhelmed the Fujifilm Ebina Minerva AFC (2-2) 33-0 at MK Taxi Field Expo, scoring on offense and special teams before a thunderstorm brought the X League Premier matchup to an early end with 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Quarterback Keita Suda led the way for Panasonic, throwing three touchdown passes as the Impulse built a 26-0 halftime lead and never gave Fujifilm Ebina a chance to get back into the game.

Panasonic strikes first

After forcing a quick punt, Panasonic went 55 yards in seven plays on its opening possession. Suda moved the Impulse downfield before hitting Soma Yamashita for a 10-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Fujifilm Ebina put together its best drive of the game on the next possession. Tenki Arai connected with Akie Koyama for 36 yards and Jo Kondo for another 16, helping Minerva reach the Panasonic 17. But the 34-yard field goal attempt missed, and the opportunity disappeared.

Suda takes control

The Impulse then began pulling away.

Suda helped march Panasonic 80 yards before finding Caleb Phillips for a three-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. On the next Impulse possession, Gemei Tachikawa ripped off a 25-yard run before Suda found Yamashita from six yards out for his third touchdown pass.

Special teams delivered the next blow. Makoto Koizumi broke through to block a Fujifilm Ebina punt and finished the play in the end zone, sending Panasonic into halftime up 26-0.

Impulse ground game keeps rolling

Panasonic opened the second half with a punishing 12-play, 75-yard drive that ate 6:50 off the clock. Suda and Tachikawa repeatedly moved the chains before Mitchell Victor Jamau powered in from nine yards to stretch the margin to 33-0.

Suda finished 10 of 14 for 107 yards and three touchdowns while also leading the Impulse with 62 rushing yards. Tachikawa added 57 yards on eight carries, while Yamashita caught two touchdown passes.

Defense smothers Minerva

The Panasonic defense allowed just 68 total yards and two first downs. Fujifilm Ebina managed only seven yards rushing, while Arai completed three of seven passes for 61 yards. The Impulse, meanwhile, piled up 289 yards, including 170 on the ground.

With Panasonic leading 33-0 and 34 seconds left in the third quarter, worsening thunder forced officials to end the game.

The result gave the Impulse their third straight victory while Fujifilm Ebina fell back to .500 at 2-2.