Playing in the Tokyo Dome, the Tokyo Gas Creators earned their first win of the season this past weekend in Japan’s X-League in upsetting IBM Big Blue 12-7.
Still, it was Big Blue who took the early lead as IBM kick returner Logan Stewart returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.
Tokyo Gas then steadily took over the game and Kanta Takahashi booted a 32 yard field goal to reduce the lead to 7-3 early in the second stanza.
Tokyo Gas Creators DL Rintaro Mazumi celebrating a sack. @XLEAGUE
In the second half, Tokyo Gas quarterback Jerod Evans drove is team down to the IBM one yard line and then called his own number to give his team a 10-7 lead midway through the third period.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the fourth quarter with neither team gaining the upper hand. Then, with 2:14 remaining, Takahaski punted the ball deep into Big Blue territory. On the next possession, defensive lineman Rintaro Mazumi tracked down IBM quarterback Dimitrios Synodinos in the end zone for a safety.
IBM Big Blue QB Dimitrios Synodinos @XLEAGUE
It was an impressive win for Tokyo Gas. They kept Big Blue off the scoreboard for all but the game’s first 17 seconds and held their offense to a mere 164 yards.
With the victory, Tokyo Gas evens their record at 1-1 while IBM falls to 1-1.
Next up for Tokyo Gas is a matchup with All Mitsubishi Lions on September 28 while Big Blue will face the Obic Seagulls on September 29.