For the first time in memory (in my memory, anyway), the initial Saturday in December was not warm and sunny afternoon in the Tokyo. But it was still quite a fine day- if you happen to be a creature from the woods.
In X2 action at Kawasaki, Club Oaks held the Wranglers to 99 yards rushing and only 5 of 22 passing, as they came away 27-13 victors, their first victory of the season.
In the afternoon game, The Dentsu Caterpillars proved mightier than the Warriors 30-7. That makes them 5-0, while the Warriors are 3-2.
The big news of the day in X-League came from Nagai Stadium in Osaka. Despite giving up 348 yards passing and 520 yards of total offense, the Kajima Deers defeated defending X-League champions Panasonic Impulse 34-26. The Deers trailed 17-0 midway through the 2nd quarter before an 89 yard kickoff return by Maeda got them on the board. They followed that with a FG and three TDs in the 3rd quarter. In spite of Panasonic going 23 for 29 passing, it was 3 interceptions- including one returned for a TD- which proved their undoing.
The Deers has earned a right to go to the X-Bowl in Tokyo Dome on December 21st where they'll meet the winner of the other semi-final game played at Yokohama Stadium on Sunday between Fujitsu Frontiers and Asahi Silver Stars.
