Japan Rice Bowl: QBs Head to Head – Fujitsu Frontiers’ Tsubasa Takagi vs Panasonic Impulse’s Jaylon Henderson

By Aidan Wohl

The Fujitsu Frontiers and the Panasonic Impulse will face for the second year in a row in Japan’s championship game, the Rice Bowl, Tuesday, January 3 

A year ago, the Frontiers defeated Panasonic 24-18 behind the excellent quarterbacking of Tsubasa Takagi who completed 17 of 26 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a third becoming the first Japanese quarterback to win the title as a starter since 2013. Takagi is again behind center for Fujitsu and his counterpart for the Impulse this year is play caller Jaylon Henderson.

The 30-year-old Takagi has been efficient all season whenever Fujitsu has needed him. He has averaged 218 passing yards and 2.6 touchdowns a game on 74% passing throughout the five-game regular season, helping his team go undefeated heading into the postseason. The Frontiers quarterback will look to continue this trend as his team aims to win its second straight title and seventh since 2014.

Jaylon Henderson has been the Impulse’s sparkplug offensively in his first year as quarterback for Panasonic. The former Boise State standout has shined in the air, averaging 186 yards and 1.8 touchdowns per game in the regular season, leading the team to a No. 1 seed and an undefeated record. Panasonic’s success against a stout Fujitsu team that has only allowed 12 points in its last two games will fall heavily on the shoulders of Henderson come Tuesday’s 76th annual Rice Bowl.

Photos: X-League