Devin & Jeremy in Japan: Nojima Rise Game 4
The Nojima Rise fell to the Asahi (Beer) Silver Stars 29-26 in another game that came down to the final minute. Nojima is now a disappointing 1-3 on the season, and in danger of missing the playoffs.
Trailing 26-10 at halftime, Devin Gardner began to bring the Rise back late in the 3rd quarter, when he ran the ball in from the 5-yard line, and passed to Jeremy Gallon for the two-point conversion to bring the score to 26-18. Midway through the 4th quarter, Garner scored on a 23 yard scramble, but Gallon was called for a block in the back. On the next play, Gardner hit Eisuke Tomatsu for a TD, and with Gardner on a QB draw for the extra point, the game was tied.
A five minute drive by the Silver Stars set up a 30-yard field goal to make it 29-26, and after the kickoff went out of bounds, the Rise took over from their own 35 with 1:03 remaining. The Silver Stars had missed an earlier field goal from 31-yards and one extra point; while Nojima had two FG kicks blocked
Gardner was able to move the ball into Asahi territory with a combination of throws and runs, but was unable to complete the 4th down pass and the ball was turned over on downs with 5 seconds remaining. Gardner missed on his last four passes, and said he had fallen on the ball at one point and was coughing up blood, but seemed fine when talking with fans after the game.
Once again Gardner was the leading rusher in the game,carrying it 14 times for 79 yards. He was 18-34 passing for, 299 yards, 2 TDs for the Rise (including their first, a 25 yard strke to Gallon), and 1 interception. Gallon had 7 catches for 133 yards.
Gardner's counterpart Mason Mills was 24-33, 341 yards and 3 TDs.
The Rise next face perrenial league power the Panasonic Impulse in a game next Sunday in Osaka.
October 9th, 2016 at 9:07 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 9:10 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 9:19 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 11:52 PM ^
Just like when he was here.
October 9th, 2016 at 9:26 PM ^
Michigan Panthers Baby!
Good luck Devin and Jeremy in Japan, sorry Harbaugh wasn't your Coach.
October 9th, 2016 at 9:36 PM ^
October 10th, 2016 at 11:43 AM ^
Those Bobby Hebert to Anthony Carter connections were so great. The Panthers were the best thing Detroit has had in the last 50 years for Pro Football...
October 9th, 2016 at 9:35 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 10:16 PM ^
I mean if they have Devin and Gallon wouldn't they logically also have defensive equivalents?
October 9th, 2016 at 10:27 PM ^
October 10th, 2016 at 12:24 AM ^
Teams are allowed to have a maximum of four (foreigners who went to a Japanese university are exempted from this rule). Only 2 may be on the field at any one time.
It's semi-pro, and teams don't really have money to pay players. But they try to give them company sponsored jobs, or find something that give them an income and time play.
Not so many teams have gaijin players though. Nojima now has three (including Ernest Thomas from Illinois). The Silver Stars only have one now (Mills, who I believe is half-Japanese). Expats already working in Japan are usually put off by the practice schedule (one or two days on weekends and possibly a weekday, almost year-round), and having to purchase your own equipment, etc.
October 10th, 2016 at 12:45 AM ^
October 10th, 2016 at 7:34 AM ^
Why do you know so much about this league?
October 10th, 2016 at 12:20 AM ^
The better defenses are pretty quick and pursue well. The OL is often overwhelmed (I know, that sounds like something Gardner should be used to by now).
October 9th, 2016 at 9:39 PM ^
coughing up blood?
October 9th, 2016 at 9:40 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 9th, 2016 at 10:08 PM ^
October 10th, 2016 at 12:07 AM ^
Yes, Gardner is wearing #98.
Gallon is wearing #13.
October 9th, 2016 at 10:29 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 11:10 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 11:13 PM ^
this is awesome, please keep posting updates
October 9th, 2016 at 11:53 PM ^
I'm glad to see those guys still playing and keeping the duo together.
October 10th, 2016 at 12:27 AM ^
Devin Gardner for governor of Michigan.
October 10th, 2016 at 12:49 AM ^
October 10th, 2016 at 1:58 AM ^
While this current game isn't up yet, you can check out a bunch of highlights and a few games from Nojima's current season, featuring Gardner and Gallon on the X-League's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8xp0DgXYXVKMVgkfYsTxKw
For instance, here's some highlights from a game they had a couple weeks ago against the Tokyo Gas Creators:
October 10th, 2016 at 6:32 AM ^
The Tokyo what again?
October 10th, 2016 at 8:17 AM ^
Who needs nuclear plants if you've got these guys?
October 10th, 2016 at 8:00 AM ^
Please keep us updated if possible. Thank you again.
I always liked Devin Gardner. He handled his time here at UM very well and honestly were it not for the situation he was in, I suspect he'd be playing here in the NFL. He's an excellent example where raw talent and potential still needs coaching and development. Had he had 3 years with Harbaugh he would have had a quite different career. Glad to see that he seems to be having fun.
October 10th, 2016 at 2:41 PM ^
I agree with you Treetown. If Devon had been under Harbaugh's coaching for 3 years he would have had a very different and more successful career. . . as a wide receiver.
Unfortunately this fine young man never had the vision and thus the accuaracy to be a passer in higher levels of participation. His outstanding athletic skills were wasted by a coaching staff that kept trying to make him into something he could never be.
I am certain that Devon will be a very successful human being once he starts using his most valuable personal attributes. . . i. e., an outstanding personality, well above average intelligence, and his UM degree.
October 10th, 2016 at 2:06 PM ^
Holy shit, that's not even fair. It's like a grown man dominating a bunch of kids at recess.
October 10th, 2016 at 10:52 AM ^
Brian should be predicting scores for this league. He might actually get one right.