Illinois Wesleyan University tops Tokyo’s Waseda Big Bears in Japan

The Illinois Wesleyan University Titans took on Tokyo’s Waseda Big Bears in Japan, and came out 33-6 winners.

Illinois Wesleyan traveled for a fifth time with Global Football, having been to Italy 2000, France 2005, the Czech Republic & Austria 2009, and Finland & Sweden 2013. The Titans will remain in Japan until June 8, visiting Tokyo’s Ginza District, the Imperial Palace Plaza, the Meiji Shinto Shrine, Yoyogi Park, the Tokyo Dome, Tsukiji Fish Market, the Sumo Wrestling Museum, Mount Fuji and will go on a Tokyo Bay cruise.

Norm Eash’s Illinois Wesleyan football team claimed a 33-6 win over the Waseda University Big Bears in the Global Bowl Tokyo 2017, played on Sunday, June 4, at Amino Field in Chofu, Japan.

Tight end Andrew Apel caught touchdown passes of 5 yards and 21 yards, both thrown by quarterback Brandon Bauer. Bauer also connected with wide receiver Jack Healy on a 17-yard TD pass and Reese Sobol had IWU’s rushing TD on a 13-yard scamper.

The other Titan touchdown came when linebacker Jordan Hassan ran 3 yards into the end zone with a punt that had been blocked by defensive back Jeremy Giderof.

Illinois Wesleyan had 354 yards of total offense (159 passing, 195 rushing) compared to 279 for Waseda (206 passing, 73 rushing). Bauer completed 13 of 15 passes for 136 yards while Jack Warner was 3 for 8 for 23 yards. Morgan Alexander had 74 yards on 10 carries and Sobol added 63 yards on 11 carries. Healy led IWU with five catches for 56 yards.

Defensive back Nico Gubenko, who transferred to IWU from Winona State this spring, led the team with seven solo tackles while defensive back Chase Bandolik had four solo tackles and Hassan had three solo and one assist.

Haruki Sakanashi got the Big Bears on the board with a one-yard run with 4:02 remaining.

“It was a fun ball game, it was a great win,” said coach Eash “Toyko is an amazing city. You are talking about (a country of) 37 million people, I can’t explain it. A lot of people and a lot of buildings and our kids are really taking it in right now.”

About Global Football

Since 1996 Global Football has provided 15,000 amateur football players, coaches, families and fans from 350 schools the opportunity to travel and compete internationally with similar people of differing cultures. During that time they have produced games and tours in 25 countries on 6 continents, including the 2012, 2014 and 2016 high school games staged in Ireland alongside the NCAA college football event. Through these games, clinics and tours the people involved experience and learn about unique lands, fascinating people, and the sports environment in different parts of the world. Global Football has become the world’s largest exporter and producer of American football outside of the USA.

Contact Patrick Steenberge:Tel: 817-219-7274 / Email: [email protected]