LIVESTREAM Japan: Nojima Sagamihara Rise v. Elecom Kobe Finies, Nov. 8, 13:00 (05:00 CET, 23:00 Nov. 7 ET)

The Japanese X-League, the top American football league in Asia, heads into its second round of play this weekend as the 0-1 Nojima Sagamihara Rise  face the 1-0 Elecom Kobe Finies in the fifth game of the shortened season.

Nojima defeated the Kobe Finies in the only meeting between the two teams in 2019, 14-12.

Last week, Fujitsu defeated the Rise 48-3 while Elecom won a last second thriller, 35-28 over IBM Big Blue.

These two teams along with the Fujitsu Frontiers, Obic Seagulls, Panasonic Impulse, IBM Big Blue and Tokyo Gas Creators, are playing a three round regular season. Initially, the All Mitsubishi Lions were slated to compete but withdrew, hence the three cancelled games.

Nojima Sagamihara Rise v. Elecom Kobe Finies, Nov. 8, 13:00 (05:00 CET, 23:00 Nov. 7 ET)

The league has been organized into two groups, Block A and Block B. The seven teams will play every other week in three rounds and the Japan XBowl on December 15 in the Tokyo Dome.

Playing with QB Takanori Kobayashi, who threw for 166 yards in last week’s loss. the Rise will need to execute well against an Elecom squad that looked impressive in the win over IBM. Also,  RB Dereck Akira Williams, who rushed for 33 yards and caught 3 passes for 17 yards will need to get some blocking.

Nojima’s top receiver two weeks ago, Takahide Dejima, who caught 3 passes for 40 yards may find more space in the secondary this week.

In the victory over the Big Blue, Elecom QB Cody Sokol threw five touchdown passes with Alfonso Onunwor his main target with a whopping 12 catches for 251 yards and three of those touchdowns. The Rise secondary could be in for a long afternoon if they do not get Onunwor under some kind of control.

Watch the game live here. Nojima Sagamihara Rise v. Elecom Kobe Finies, Nov. 8, 13:00 (05:00 CET, 23:00 Nov. 7 ET)