Japan: Panasonic Impulse roll past Sekisui Challengers with dominant ground attack

The Panasonic Impulse (2-0) overpowered the Sekisui Challengers (1-1) 38-7 at Baycom Athletics Stadium, riding a 300-yard rushing onslaught to secure their second straight X League victory.

Second-quarter explosion seals victory
After QB Yuya Araki’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Risuke Kuwata opened the scoring, Panasonic unleashed a 31-point first-half barrage. RB Victor Jamal Mitchell  scored two rushing TDs (4:01 and 7:34), Genmei Tachikawa added a 20-yard TD run (7:50), and Shintaro Saeki drilled a 52-yard field goal (12:00) for a commanding 31-0 halftime lead.

Ground game overwhelms Sekisui defense
Mitchell (54 yards, 2 TDs), Tachikawa (73 yards, 1 TD), and Makoto Koizumi (49-yard fourth-quarter TD) anchored Panasonic’s relentless rushing attack. Araki contributed 63 scramble yards, while Koizumi’s 49-yard burst iced the game at 38-7. The Impulse averaged 6.8 yards per carry, converting five red-zone drives into scores.

Defense stifles Challengers’ momentum
Panasonic limited Sekisui to 25 total rushing yards and one scoring drive—a third-quarter Garrett Safron TD pass to Akira Kameyama (12:00). Safron’s 153 passing yards came largely in garbage time, with Sekisui failing to capitalize on 21 completions.

Balanced offense fuels 2-0 start
Araki’s efficient day (7/15, 122 yards, 1 TD) complemented the ground dominance, spreading targets to six receivers. Kuwata (3 catches, 49 yards) and Yoshiyuki Oshio (2 catches, 41 yards) provided aerial support.

The Impulse’s 2-0 start positions them as X League contenders, while Sekisui must regroup after being outgained 417-178 in total yards.

Source: XLeague