Two of the top teams in Japan’s premier league, the X League, will clash Sunday at Yokohama Stadium as the defending champion Panasonic Impulse take on the Lixil Deers.
The Impulse are coming off a tough 24-17 victory over the Nojima Sagamihara Rise while Lixil had an easier time of it in shutting out the As One Black Eagles 51-0.
Both the Impulse and the Deers have already clinced berths in the next round in Japan – the Super 9.
Panasonic running back Ben Dupree is always dangerous and was a major factor in their 2015 championship run. Deers quarterback Shohei Kato has been steady all season and last week completed 15 of 22 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game.
Both teams enter this game with 4-1 records and are ranked #3 and 4 in Japan.