The Fujitsu Frontiers beat the Panasonic Impulse 29-21 to win their second consecutive and seventh overall Rice Bowl American football championship on Tuesday.
In a rematch of last year's title game, the Frontiers turned a 14-10 halftime deficit into a 22-21 lead by the end of the third quarter at Tokyo Dome.
The Fujitsu Frontiers celebrate after winning the Rice Bowl American football championship at Tokyo Dome on Jan. 3, 2023. (Kyodo)
Trashaun Nixon added a touchdown run for the Frontiers in the fourth quarter.
"It was a tough game," Frontiers head coach Yo Yamamoto said. "Our players did what they had to do at the right time. That resulted in the win."
Prior to last year's game, the Rice Bowl matched the X-League champion with the top college team, but it now serves as the league decider.
