Saeki’s leg, stout defense propel Panasonic Impulse to gritty Rice Bowl repeat over Obic Seagulls

In a brutal defensive battle at the Tokyo Dome, the defending champion Panasonic Impulse dethroned the previously undefeated Obic Seagulls 9-7 to win the 79th Rice Bowl, claiming their second consecutive national title in a game where points were at an absolute premium.

Kickers and defenders decide it
The game’s only touchdown came in the second quarter when Obic quarterback Pierce Holley connected with star receiver Yuki Sakuma on a spectacular 61-yard bomb, giving the Seagulls a 7-3 lead. Outside of that single explosive play, however, the Impulse defense completely stifled Obic’s high-powered attack. The rest of the scoring belonged solely to Panasonic kicker Shintaro Saeki, who was flawless, connecting on field goals from 42, 49, and finally a clutch 28-yard go-ahead kick with just 3:20 remaining in the fourth quarter. His steady leg provided all the offense the champions would need on a day where end zones were nearly impossible to find.

The defense seals it
Obic had one final chance to mount a game-winning drive, but Panasonic defensive back Joshua Cox ended all hopes by securing his second interception of the day against Pierce Holley, sealing the narrow victory. Cox’s takeaways were the exclamation point on a phenomenal defensive performance that consistently bent but never broke. The Impulse front seven completely neutralized Obic’s ground game, holding them to a paltry 44 rushing yards on 18 attempts. This one-dimensionality allowed the pass rush to tee off, constantly pressuring Holley into hurried throws despite his 304 passing yards.

A tale of two offenses
The stat sheet tells the story of a grind. Panasonic’s offense, led by running back Victor Mitchell (51 rushing yards) and receiver Risuke Kuwata (5 catches for 46 yards), couldn’t find the end zone but did just enough to put Saeki in position to score. Quarterback Yuya Araki managed the game effectively, completing 15 of 26 passes for 126 yards while avoiding critical mistakes. For Obic, Yuki Sakuma was the lone bright spot, hauling in 8 catches for 123 yards and the team’s only touchdown. Beyond the big play, however, the Seagulls couldn’t sustain drives, going just 2-for-12 on third down conversions. In the end, Panasonic’s championship experience, stalwart defense, and a perfect day from their kicker proved the difference, overcoming an offensive struggle to hoist the trophy once again.

Source: XLeague