The Panasonic IMPULSE (West #1 , 6-0) kicked off the X League’s 2nd Stage SUPER 9 action with a 38-14 victory over the Asahi Beer SILVER STARS (Central #3 , 4-2) at Yokohama Stadium.

The explosive SILVER STARS offense, led by their outstanding X League rookie QB #15 Mason Mills (University of San Diego) and their shifty WR #3 Roman Wilson (Princeton), were unable to overcome a strong defensive outing from the IMPULSE. Heading into the game, Asahi’s Mills statistically led all other X League QB’s by a large margin as he amassed 1708 yards of passing with 19 touchdowns and 7 interceptions over 5 games, an average of almost 342 yards passing per game. Similarly, Asahi’s Wilson was the league’s receiving leader, pulling in 38 catches for 800 yards and 13 touchdowns over his first 5 games.

Following an impressive opening drive march down the field by the IMPULSE offense that resulted in a 1 yard touchdown toss by IMPULSE QB #8 Tetsuo “Iron Man” Takata to IMPULSE TE Shohei “Shark” Kishimoto, the IMPULSE led 7-0 with 8:31 remaining in the 1st quarter. However, Asahi’s Mills provided a quick answer to the IMPULSE score with one of his own via a 37 yard touchdown pass to even the score at 7-7. Following the score, the IMPULSE once again put together an impressive touchdown drive, this time capped off by a 1 yard run by IMPULSE RB #24 Ben Dupree just before the conclusion of the 1st quarter.

Trailing 14-7 to open the 2nd quarter, Asahi’s Mills once again went to the air to answer the IMPULSE’s score, this time from 1 yard out to his leading receiver Roman Wilson. With the score tied at 14-14 in the 2nd quarter, the IMPULSE again put together a great drive finished off yet again by some magnificent running by the electrifying Ben Dupree to give the IMPULSE a 21-14 lead with 3:15 remaining in the 2nd quarter. This time, Asahi’s Mills was unable to answer the IMPULSE’s score, as he threw an untimely interception to IMPULSE DL #9 Wataru Takeda to give the IMPULSE the ball on Asahi’s own 23 yard line with 2:24 remaining in the 2nd quarter. The IMPULSE’s veteran QB Takata then quickly capitalized on the turnover, connecting with IMPULSE WR #15 Tetsuya “Moss” Tonka on a 4 yard touchdown pass to give the IMPULSE a 28-14 lead heading into halftime.

The IMPULSE opened up the scoring books once again in the 2nd half, this time with another impressive 41 yard touchdown gallop from Ben Dupree to put the IMPULSE up 35-14 with 5:41 left in the 3rd quarter.

The IMPULSE would put the final polish on the victory with a successful 25 yard field goal kick by IMPULSE K #11 Eita Saeki in the 4th quarter, ending the game with a 38-14 victory over the SILVER STARS.

The IMPULSE’s RB Ben Dupree was the standout player of the day, finishing the game with 140 yards rushing on 18 carries and adding 3 touchdowns to the IMPULSE’s offensive production. IMPULSE QB Tetsuo Takata also had an outstanding game, going 16 for 22 passing for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns. The IMPULSE defense’s DL #17 David Motu and DL #21 Carlton Jones both were able to apply constant pressure to Asahi’s Mills, limiting him to 249 yards passing on the day, well below his per game production that he achieved throughout the season. Mills completed 24 of 46 passes to finish with a completion percentage of just over 52 percent on the day. While Mills was responsible for both of Asahi’s touchdown scores, the IMPULSE defense’s pressure also influenced him to throw 3 interceptions, resulting in Mills turning in his least productive outing of his young career in the X League.

Next up, the IMPULSE will look to go 2 for 2 in the X League’s 2nd round of competition as they take on the 4-1 Nojima Sagamihara RISE on November 15th at 2:30pm in Osaka’s Kincho Stadium. The RISE, led by rookie American QB Ben Anderson (Arkansas Pine Bluff ? SWAC) have shown that they are a solid team over the league’s 1st round of action, led by an impressive 20-17 victory over the now 4-2 OBIC Seagulls earlier this season. An IMPULSE victory would secure the team’s spot in the X League Semifinals set to take place on November 29th. Four teams will reach the semifinal round, where the two winners from those games will advance to the Japan X Bowl Championship Game on December 14th in the Tokyo Dome. In the past 5 years, the IMPULSE have only once reached the X League Semifinals and have yet to record an undefeated season during that time span.

NEXT UP
Panasonic IMPULSE [6-0] vs. Nojima Sagamihara RISE [4-1]

Panasonic IMPULSE
*8/29/2015 vs. (0-6) Fuji Xerox J-STARS [Won 90-0]
*9/13/2015 vs. (3-3) As One BLACK EAGLES [Won 50-0]
*9/23/2015 vs. (4-1) Asahi CHALLENGERS [Won 14-7]
*10/4/2015 vs. (1-4) Nagoya CYCLONES [Won 69-0]
*10/17/2015 vs. (3-3) Elecom Kobe FINIES [Won 27-0]
*10/31/2015 vs. (4-2) Asahi Beer SILVER STARS [Won 38-14]
*11/15/2015 vs. (4-1) Nojima Sagamihara RISE

Nojima Sagamihara RISE
*9/6/2015 vs. (3-3) All Mitsubishi LIONS [Won 28-7]
*9/13/2015 vs. (4-2) OBIC SEAGULLS [Won 20-17]
*9/25/2015 vs. (1-5) Keishicyou EAGLES [Won 45-3]
*10/3/2015 vs. (6-0) Fujitsu FRONTIERS [Lost 10-37]
*10/17/2015 vs. (1-4) Meiji Yasuda Penta Ocean PIRATES [Won 16-3]
*11/8/2015 vs. (4-2) Asahi Beer SILVER STARS
*11/15/2015 vs. (6-0) Panasonic IMPULSE