Japan – X-League QF: Obic Seagulls get by Nojima Sagamihara Rise to reach semifinals

The #3 seeded Obic Seagulls were pushed hard late in their X-League quarterfinal matchup against the #6 seeded Nojima Sagamihara Rise but withstood a fourth quarter surge to come away with a 20-14 win.

Obic DB Takumi Ogura (top) and Nojima Sagamihara WR Tayvian Cunningham in a battle Photo: @xleague

Obic found the scoreboard first after stopping Nojima Sagamihara’s initial drive. Quarterback Tyler Kulka marched his team deep into Rise territory after finding wide receiver Jamal Watanabe for a 40 yard gain. He then hit Yuto Nishimura from five yards out to give his team a 6-0 lead following a failed PAT attempt.

Nojima Sagamihara Rise RB Sho Yoshizawa (left) heading for the end zone Photo: @xleague

The Rise answered in the second quarte as quarterback Kurt Palandech moved his team down to the Obic three yard line and then hit Sho Yoshizawa for a touchdown giving Nojima Sagamihara a 7-6 lead with just over two minutes left in the first half.

However, as the clock wound down, Kulka connected with Watanbe for a 13 yard touchdown to give the Seagulls a 13-7 lead going into the break.

Obic WR Kokaji Kyohei (center) evading Rise defenders Photo: @xleague

In the second half, Obic began to take control of the game. Kulka and Watanabe connected for their second touchdown of the day on a third and 17 from the 20 yard line. Watanabe was coming across the middle and Kulka hit him perfectly heading into the end zone to extend the lead to 20-7.

The fourth quarter saw both teams’ defenses stiffen and it seemed as if the score would remain. But with less than three minutes left in the game, Palandech found Philip Redwine in the end zone from a yard out to cut the deficit to six, 20-14.

Nojima Sagamihara QB Kurt Palandech looking downfield Photo: @xleague

A last ditch effort by the Rise was snuffed out with a minute left as Palandech was picked off at his own 25 yard line to effectively end the game.

Kulka threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns with Watanbe catching four for 80 yards and two scores and Nishimura four for 47 and another score. Running back Taku Lee had 10 carries for 42 yards.

For the Rise, Palandech completed 18 of 32 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns with Tay Cunningham catching five of those passes for 70 yards. Redwine and Sho Yoshizawa each caught a touchdown pass. Running back Sho Yoshizawa rushed for 62 yards on 15 carries.

The Seagulls now await the winner of the quarterfinal game between the Panasonic Impulse and the Elecom Kobe Fines.

Source: X-League

Watch the highlights here.