All Mitsubishi Lions 40 - 0 Bulls Football Club
This was the second game of the spring for two teams heading in different directions.
Lions followed up an impressive showing against college champions Nihon University Phoenix with a facile win over fellow Battle 9 side Bulls.
The Asaka-based Bulls conversely have now shipped 93 points without reply in their two games in the Pearl Bowl and seem to be in for another rough season.
Standout on the day for Lions was RB Ryosuke Ogata.
The Meiji University man took a screen pass 34 yards down the left sideline weaving in and out for the opening score.
In the second quarter he turned on the afterburners down the sideline again and left everyone in his dust on a 76 yard TD run.
That was part of a 23 point explosion in the second quarter that put the game away as a contest before halftime.
Ogata in the end touched the ball seven times and finished with 175 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns
The 27 year old wasn't the only Lion with splash plays however.
Wideout Akinori Tada dragged a couple of defenders about 20 yards down the field on a 58 yard reception.
Several other Lions contributed significantly to a victory that sets up an interesting final group game against Lixil.
Deers will be expected to win that but Lions have been increasingly competitive against the Super 9 sides so a shock isn't completely off the cards.
- John Gunning: May 4th 2018
