The last few weeks of November are when things shake out- play-off and regulation games are decided, and tentative alignments for next year are formed.
While most divisions of most leagues in Japan have their last game coming up this coming weekend, Division 1 of X-League and KCFA (Kanto) and the KAFCA (Kanssai) concluded their seasons, and will have playoff games the first weekend in December.
In college action at Kawasaki Stadium, after leading 20-10 at the half the Hosei Tomahawks defeated the Tohoku Hornets 51-16; not to be outdone, the Waseda Big Bears pounded the Hokkaido champion Otaru University of Commerce squad- also called the Tomahawks- by a 56-13 score. Hosei and Waseda will meet in the "Clash Bowl" on 12/5 at Ajinomoto Stadium. The winner will face the Kansai champion in the Koshien Bowl to be crowned as collegiate champion.
In 2nd Stage X1 action, at Kincho Stadium (formerly the Nagai Ball Field) in Osaka, Kansai and Kanto teams split a double-header. The Asahi Challengers got close at the beginning of the 4th Quarter to make it 21-16, but the Kajima Deers pulled away to a 38-23 win. The Panasonic Impulse scored a TD later to make it 23-16 over the Fujitsu Frontiers. The Frontiers, who won the Pearl Bowl in July and were favorites to return to make it to the X-Bowl, finished in a 3 way tie for a spot in playoffs.
That drawing was won by IBM, so the Big Blue advance, even though they just lost to Obic 55-27. IBM coach Shinzo Yamda looked over at me and said, "We were just lucky; we didn't do anything to deserve it". They were shut out in the first half, as Obic scored 4 TDs in the 2nd Quarter. With 77-yard KOR for a TD by Josh Sample to open the 2nd half, and a TD after an ill advised scramble by Obic QB Morishita which resulted in a fumble giving IBM the ball on the 4 yard-line, the Big Blue were able to close it to 31-17 with a little over 17 minutes left in the ball game, but 6 turnovers in the game, and three more Obic TDs in the 4th quarter put the game out of reach.
In the semi-finals on 12/5, Obic will meet Kajima at Kawasaki, and IBM will travel to Osaka to face Panasonic at Nagai.
irikaesen or Relegation games (otherwise known as Replacement or my favorite, Up-Down games) will take place the following weekend.
