Japan: Nojima Sagamihara shuts down Tokyo Gas for third straight win
The Nojima Sagamihara Rise (3-2-1) leaned on a punishing ground game and a defense that refused to give up the end zone until the closing minutes, beating the Tokyo Gas Creators (2-4) 17-7 Wednesday at Fujitsu Stadium Kawasaki for their third straight X League Premier victory.
The Rise rushed for 145 yards while holding the Creators to just 27, controlled the ball for 25:26 and converted seven of 10 third downs.
Hoshino breaks through
Neither offense found the end zone in the opening quarter, but Nojima Sagamihara began leaning on its running game as the first half unfolded.
Masataka Hoshino finally punched through in the second quarter, finishing a seven-play, 74-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run. Taiki Sato added the extra point to give the Rise a 7-0 lead.
The ground game remained the backbone of the offense. Sho Yoshizawa carried 13 times for 74 yards, while Hoshino added 53 yards and the touchdown on 11 attempts. Nojima Sagamihara finished with 36 rushing attempts.
Rise grinds out another score
The Rise came out of halftime and put together the kind of drive that can wear down a defense, marching 77 yards in 14 plays and keeping the ball for 7:23.
Tokyo Gas finally stopped the drive at its three, but Sato knocked through a 20-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 10-0.
Tokyo Gas Creators WR Yuji Hayashi (center) is brought down by the Nojima Sagamihara Rise defense. © X LEAGUE
The defense then set up the touchdown that effectively put the game away.
Philip Redwine intercepted Yujin Taniguchi in the fourth quarter, handing Nojima Sagamihara the ball at the Tokyo Gas 36. Two plays later, Katsunori Ohashi hit Junpei Gimoto for 22 yards before finding Chase Cota from eight yards out for the touchdown and a 17-0 lead.
Creators rally too late
Tokyo Gas finally broke through on its final possession.
Taniguchi moved the Creators 54 yards in 11 plays and capped the drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Koki Osaka, cutting the margin to 17-7 with 1:11 remaining. Taniguchi finished 20 of 36 for 184 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
But there wasn’t enough time left for another comeback.
The Rise had already done the damage on the ground and on defense, closing out their third consecutive victory and moving to 3-2-1.
