Saturday, June 22, 2013

X-League 2013 Pearl Bowl preview

The Kajima Deers will take on the Fujitsu Frontiers in the 36th Pearl Bowl title game on Monday, 6/24 at Tokyo Dome (aka The Big Egg).

Each team had to overcome big rivals on the way to game, the spring season championship for the top teams in X-League Kanto action.

Fujitsu defeated arch-nemesis Obic 31-13 in a mistake filled game, on May 25th.  The Frontiers held the Seagulls to -21 yards rushing on 37 carries, while former Nihon University QB Keiya Hiramoto has come on this spring to lead the Frontiers.  The win broke Obic's 37 game winning streak, going back to 2010.

The next day, Kajima scored early, then pulled away late, as the Deers beat the Rise 27-12. The Rise bested the Deers both on the ground and in the air, but they settled for a rushing  touchdown and three field goals, while Takuya Yamashiro made their drives count more, connecting for three TD passes.

Both teams hope to use the spring season to propel them to an X-League championship and Rice Bowl berth in the fall.  The Deers defeated the Frontiers twice last year, once in regular season and again in the playoffs at Yokohama Stadium, by a 24-14 score. Kajima then suffered a painful 27-24 loss to Obic in the Japan X Bowl.

Fujitsu last won the Pearl Bowl in 2010, while Kajima took their 9th title in 2009.

Tickets are 1,500円 in advance; 2000円 the day of the game. 
http://www.xleague.com/ticket/


Cheerleaders?


There will be cheerleaders.  Possibly wet ones.

Kickoff will be at 7 PM.