Quarterback/placement kick holder Masanori Ishikawa scored a 10-yard rushing touchdown on a trick play at 1 minute, 59 seconds entering the final quarter as the Onward Skylarks edged the Kajima Deers 24-21 in the Japan X Bowl at Kyocera Dome on Saturday afternoon.
The Skylarks won the X League championship for the second time in three years.
The Deers took a lead in the third quarter with a rushing touchdown from running back Naohisa Ikeba with 2:04 remaining in the period.
But Onward surpassed the Deers with a last-quarter gamble play.
After the game, Onward quarterback Takahiro Kojima was selected as the Japan X Bowl MVP, while defensive back Reggie Mitchell was chosen as the regular season MVP.
The attendance at the Bowl was 12,327.