Japan: Sekisui Challengers dominate IBM Big Blue in shutout victory

Playing superbly dominant football, the Sekisui Challengers (3-1) defeated IBM Big Blue (1-3) 15-0 in the fourth round of the X1 Super, securing a shutout victory that showcased their dominance on both sides of the ball.

Early scoring and solid defense
The game kicked off with Sekisui taking the lead in the first quarter when kicker Toshiki Sato nailed a 30-yard field goal. Sato added another field goal from 24 yards out in the second quarter, giving the Challengers a 6-0 lead at halftime. The Sekisui defense was relentless, with the defensive back trio of Yusuke Chiba, Tre’Vaughn Craig, and Ryosuke Ueshiba each contributing an interception, effectively neutralizing IBM’s passing attack.

Extending the lead
In the second half, quarterback Garrett Saffron extended Sekisui’s lead with a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Akira Kameyama. Sato capped off the scoring with a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, solidifying the 15-0 shutout.

Individual standout performances
For Sekisui, Garrett Saffron had an impressive outing, completing 15 of 18 passes for 199 yards and 1 touchdown. Boogie Knight had 6 catches for 39 yards while Takuro Abe caught 3 passes for 57 yards. On the ground, Ryutaro Yanai led the rushing attack with 7 carries for 30 yards.

On the other side, IBM’s quarterback Yuki Masamoto completed 17 of 27 passes for 185 yards but struggled to find the end zone. Tommy Auger was the leading receiver with 81 yards on 6 catches.

With the win, the Challengers made a push to advance to the Rice Bowl Tournament while the loss effectively put IBM out of contention.

Source: XLeague