Trashaun Nixon rushed for 196 yards and three touchdowns and was the game MVP.
The Big Blue started the game with a kickoff return to midfield and drove to the Frontiers 13, but settled for a field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
But that didn't last long, as on Fujitsu's second play from scrimmage, Nixon bounced outside and was able to elude a few tacklers down the right sideline for a 67 yard touchdown run. "The backer went inside, and Trashaun bounced outside," noted IBM defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer.
"When I broke through the line and I seen the space, all I could think was, 'You'd better not get caught!'" exclaimed Nixon.
From that point, the Frontiers never trailed, as their running game was too much for the Big Blue defense. They led 21-9 at the half, and scored two more touchdowns in the second half, while IBM was kept out of the end zone until 1:26 remained. While the Frontiers' longest drives in the game were only eight and ten plays, four of their first six drives resulted in touchdowns.
Meanwhile five of Big Blues drives ended in field goal attempts. IBM player-coach Kevin Craft said, "We moved the ball probably more than they've ever had the ball moved on them this year, but we talked about the red zone, was where it was gonna be for us on offense. On defense we knew we were going to have to toughen up. So there's nothing that shocked me about that game." IBM went 3 for 13 in 3rd down conversions, whereas Fujitsu went 4 for 9.
Craft (11-19-1 TD), who had missed playing most of the season with a broken hand and then a sprained ankle, replaced starting QB Yuki Masamoto (14-21-0) who broke his hand early in the second half. The two combined for 276 yards passing. "We had shots, we just missed them. Those were the matchups we wanted. We had two fades that we just missed. We hit those two, and hey, it's a ball game all of a sudden, and their in a different game, and the defense is playing different."
John Stanton had nine catches for 114 yards and a touchdown for IBM.
Meanwhile Michael Birdsong (10-17-1-1), who was hampered with a sore shoulder, threw for 93 yards for the Frontiers. The Big Blue defense were able to contain Clark Nakamura, who finished with only 15 yards on two catches, but some of that was by design. "We kept rolling up to him," said IBM DC Kaumeyer, "it's just a matter of what you want to do. If you gamble that way, you're a little light on the run."
In addition to Nixon's 196 yards on 17 carries, Birdsong added 86 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while Masamoto and Craft had 38 and 22 yards respectively.
Last year, Kaumeyer was running Fujitsu's defense with Nixon at linebacker. Kaumeyer switched sidelines this year, while Nixon switched sides of the ball, becoming a running back for Fujitsu. "Running back was my first position, so it kind of feels like home," said Trashaun.
It has paid off well, as Nixon was named both the game and the league's Most Valuable Player for 2018.
