UFL action at Oi Stadium #2.
The Roebucks will meet the Thunderbirds in the championship game on December 12th.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
end of November
UFL action at Oi Stadium #2.
The Roebucks will meet the Thunderbirds in the championship game on December 12th.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
November 27-28
Thanksgiving weekend. Big games coming up this weekend in the States- the last game of the regular season. The top 3 college teams play on Friday.
Here in Japan:
College football on Saturday at Komazawa Stadium #2 right there in Komazawa Park.
Triple-headers both Saturday and Sunday at Aminovital.
Final regular season games on Sunday for the for the Kanto Collegiate Football Federation. Sunday is the last regular season game for the Urban Football league at Oi Dai Ni stadium as well; and Sunday also closes out the regular season for the Japan Private Football Federation- but spectators are of course,welcome- at Grand Yasushi Ken Oomiya and at Minato Mirai.
You can check listings (see links), but the kickoff for the first game is usually around 11AM; and where there is a third game, that usually starts around 4:30.
...and the 6-year dental and medical schools in Japan have special leagues of their own- they will have 3 games at 10, 12 and 2 on Sunday in Kawasaki stadium.
Dress warm and enjoy american football, japan-style!
Here in Japan:
College football on Saturday at Komazawa Stadium #2 right there in Komazawa Park.
Triple-headers both Saturday and Sunday at Aminovital.
Final regular season games on Sunday for the for the Kanto Collegiate Football Federation. Sunday is the last regular season game for the Urban Football league at Oi Dai Ni stadium as well; and Sunday also closes out the regular season for the Japan Private Football Federation- but spectators are of course,welcome- at Grand Yasushi Ken Oomiya and at Minato Mirai.
You can check listings (see links), but the kickoff for the first game is usually around 11AM; and where there is a third game, that usually starts around 4:30.
...and the 6-year dental and medical schools in Japan have special leagues of their own- they will have 3 games at 10, 12 and 2 on Sunday in Kawasaki stadium.
Dress warm and enjoy american football, japan-style!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
2011 X-League Division I blocks
The X League announced it's divisional alignment for 2011. The Kanto area is divided into two "blocks", nominally the Eastern and Central, which are redrawn each year, based on standings.
EASTERN
Kajima Dears
Fujitsu Frontiers
Meiji-Yasuda Pirates
All-Mitsubishi Lions
Bullseyes Tokyo
Fuji-Xerox Minerva
CENTRAL:
Obic Seagulls
IBM Big Blue
Asahi Beer Silver Stars
Hurricanes
All Tokyo Gas Creators
Nihon Unisys Bulls
EASTERN
Kajima Dears
Fujitsu Frontiers
Meiji-Yasuda Pirates
All-Mitsubishi Lions
Bullseyes Tokyo
Fuji-Xerox Minerva
CENTRAL:
Obic Seagulls
IBM Big Blue
Asahi Beer Silver Stars
Hurricanes
All Tokyo Gas Creators
Nihon Unisys Bulls
shaking out
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.
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.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
good football too
Three terrific Division II collegiate games on a beautiful football Saturday at Konmazawa Park, with it's 5 yard end zones and all.
While Division I games in September are generally lopsided affairs, this year there seems to be a lot more parity in Division II. (In week 1 in B block, the bottom four teams in the division defeated the top four).
In the morning game, the Toyo Vikings and the Musashino Pheasants from block A fought to a 17-all tie. Toyo scored first on a field goal, and a late drive brought them inside the 10 to give them a shot at a short field goal, but it was blocked to end the game (there is no overtime in Division II regular season games). Both teams featured impressive passing attacks.
After a two hour wait for the kickoff of the second game (to avoid the mid-day heat) the Gakushuin Generals and Aoyama Lightning got off to a slow start, but showed lots of offense throughout the day, as #21 for both sides ran (and in some places kicked), and showing great speed and determination for their respective teams. The Generals scored first on a field goal, and Aoyama came back tith a drive of their own to take a 7-3 lead. After falling behind on another General's drive, Aoyama scored late in the half on a beautiful fade to Anzaki who beat the CB and S for a TD with less than a minute to go. But Gakushuin Marched down and scored on the final play of the half to reclaim a 3 point lead.
Aoyama scored on a FG to tie it 17-all early in the 3rd period, and went ahead ona 1 yard run by Kimura early in the 4th period. Gakushuin returned the kickoff for a TD to tie it up again. From there, turnovers did in Aoyama, as a fumbed point gave Gakushuin a short field, and a couple of TD receptions by #87 late made the final 38-24. The Generals are now 2-0, and Aoyama falls to 0-2.
In the evening contest, the Yokohama Mastiffs fell behind to the Takushoku Rattle Snakes after scoring early, then finally scoring a TD again with two minutes left. The Rattle Snakes drove to near the Aoyama goal line, but after spiking on 1st and 3rd down, their FG attempt on 4th down was blocked, allowing the Mastiffs to escape with a 13-10 victory.
While Division I games in September are generally lopsided affairs, this year there seems to be a lot more parity in Division II. (In week 1 in B block, the bottom four teams in the division defeated the top four).
In the morning game, the Toyo Vikings and the Musashino Pheasants from block A fought to a 17-all tie. Toyo scored first on a field goal, and a late drive brought them inside the 10 to give them a shot at a short field goal, but it was blocked to end the game (there is no overtime in Division II regular season games). Both teams featured impressive passing attacks.
After a two hour wait for the kickoff of the second game (to avoid the mid-day heat) the Gakushuin Generals and Aoyama Lightning got off to a slow start, but showed lots of offense throughout the day, as #21 for both sides ran (and in some places kicked), and showing great speed and determination for their respective teams. The Generals scored first on a field goal, and Aoyama came back tith a drive of their own to take a 7-3 lead. After falling behind on another General's drive, Aoyama scored late in the half on a beautiful fade to Anzaki who beat the CB and S for a TD with less than a minute to go. But Gakushuin Marched down and scored on the final play of the half to reclaim a 3 point lead.
Aoyama scored on a FG to tie it 17-all early in the 3rd period, and went ahead ona 1 yard run by Kimura early in the 4th period. Gakushuin returned the kickoff for a TD to tie it up again. From there, turnovers did in Aoyama, as a fumbed point gave Gakushuin a short field, and a couple of TD receptions by #87 late made the final 38-24. The Generals are now 2-0, and Aoyama falls to 0-2.
In the evening contest, the Yokohama Mastiffs fell behind to the Takushoku Rattle Snakes after scoring early, then finally scoring a TD again with two minutes left. The Rattle Snakes drove to near the Aoyama goal line, but after spiking on 1st and 3rd down, their FG attempt on 4th down was blocked, allowing the Mastiffs to escape with a 13-10 victory.
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