Junior Challengers: High School Football – Year 3 Update

The independent high school American football team “Junior Challengers” (Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture), which was formed in April 2024, is steadily making progress by gaining experience through joint practices and practice games. On December 7th of last year, they played a practice match against Ritsumeikan Moriyama in the first half and against Shiga Prefectural Nagahama Kita in the second half. On the field of Ritsumeikan Moriyama High School, where they played their first team game in September 2014, they could be seen looking a little more muscular.

Pre-game practice with a good atmosphere

On this day, 30 names were lined up on the member list. During the first game, there was no set practice routine before the game, so I just did what the coach told me to do. This time, the players sounded excited for the match, and there was an atmosphere of preparation for the fight.

The Junior Challengers start with defense. Ritsumeikan Moriyama has a QB (quarterback) with extraordinary ability, Yotaro Ohmae (2nd year). I was watching his pass, and on the third play, I allowed the RB (running back) to score a solo touchdown. It became 0-7.

He renewed his offensive rights for the first time in his third offense. They tried to attack during the quarter time, but they were intercepted and no points were scored. Immediately after, the opponent’s offense allowed QB Ohmae to score a TD pass. It became 0-14. There were occasional brilliant plays, such as a nice run by RB Go Nishimura (2nd year, Asuka Mirai Kibo) and an interception by LB (linebacker) Chiki Shirashoji (2nd year, Kansai University High School), but they added 3 points from a field goal (FG), and the battle against Ritsumeikan Moriyama, which they had been aiming for, ended in a complete defeat, 0-17.

HC Shinji Saoka “The purpose is to enjoy football”

Their opponent in the second half is Nagahama Kita. The first opponent’s offense allowed a TD pass. It became 0-24. The Junior Challengers attacked with runs from QB Hayao Hosokawa (1st year, Kobe Prefectural) and RB Nishimura, but they were far from the end zone. Another TD pass made it 0-31. Immediately into the fourth quarter, LB Yuichiro Iba (second year, Kansai University High School) made an interception. The sideline was finally lively.

Offense from own 47 yards. On the first play, QB Kei Imamura (1st year, Prefectural Rakuhoku) caught a pass. Iba, who had just made a big play on defense, was placed at WR (wide receiver). Imamura’s sharp pass flew to the narrow left side where number two ran vertically. Iba won the competition with the opponent’s DB and caught it. There’s no one in front of me anymore. Iba ran desperately and ran into the left edge of the end zone. The team’s first TD made it 7-31.

In the ensuing defense, DB (defensive back) Taiga Matsuno (2nd year, Myojo) makes an interception. From here, they persevered and renewed their attacking rights three times to get to the goal. Finally, WR Ken Murakami (2nd year, Osaka Ritsumeikan), who moved into QB, ran into the center area and made a maul for a TD. The game ended at 13-31. It was 13-14 against Nagahama Kita.

Head coach Shinji Saoka (43), who previously served as captain of the Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters, told the players, “There are many areas where you can catch up.The purpose is to enjoy football, so let’s change our mindset and do it.”

Captain Eito Uesaka: “I was so moved I couldn’t stand up.”

This was the last game for the four third-year students, including Eito Uesaka (Keimei Gakuin), who joined the team as a founding member and served as the first captain. During the final play, Uesaka was on the field as a LB. The game ended when Uesaka tackled the opponent’s RB who hit near the center. Since Uesaka was not getting up, his friends around him became worried and called out to him. “I was so moved that I couldn’t stand up.” After the match, Uesaka revealed this with a smile. “I’m really happy to have met this team.”

Although Uesaka is slender at 170cm tall and weighs 70kg, he has served as both a LB and an offensive lineman on this team. My father used to play for the American football club at Osaka University of Arts and the Huskies, an adult club team, and he took me to watch the Koshien Bowl every year. In order to start competing in junior high school, he took the entrance exam and entered Keimei Gakuin, a school affiliated with Kwansei Gakuin University. He played for Keimei for four years until his first year of high school, but due to some circumstances he left the club.

When I was thinking about what to do after my second year of high school, I learned that there was a high school American football team called the Junior Challengers. When I went to the ground near my home, it looked like a lot of fun. I decided to join because I thought, “I want to try this place again.”

After going to university, he became a coach for the Junior Challengers.

Playing American football with head coach Saoka-san and high school students from other schools with various backgrounds was close to the world Uesaka had always imagined. “There was a lot of freedom, and the coach always listened to the players’ opinions. It was very easy to work as both a player and a captain. I fell in love with American football again.”

When he left Keimei’s team at the end of his first year of high school, he was not well-received by some of his teammates. However, when they saw Uesaka immersing himself in American football again, they began to support him in his next step. Keimei’s classmates came to help the Junior Challengers practice after they retired after losing at the national championship last November.

Uesaka will move on to Kwansei Gakuin University this spring, but will not join the Fighters and will become the coach of the Junior Challengers. “I would be lying if I said that I have no regrets about playing, but I think the best thing for me is to be involved in football here as a coach.” Uesaka chose 4 years to support his juniors on the team that saved him.

In pursuit of the father of “The best RB in Ray-Bans history”

Iba, a sophomore, made a remarkable TD as a WR immediately after making an interception as a LB. If this last name strikes you, you are correct. His father is Nobuyuki Iba, who was a big runner for Kobe University from 1990 to 1993 and is said to be the “best running back in Ray-Bans history.” The son has seen his father’s heroic side on video. When asked about his impressions, he laughed and said, “I worked really hard.” “My dad was doing it, so I felt like I wanted to do it too.” He started playing American football for the Hyogo Stokes when he was in first year of junior high school, and was a founding member of the Junior Challengers. Of course, he is aiming for Kobe University.

At Kansai University High School, he was a member of the Nippon Kempo club and was a first-dan student. “If I hadn’t made this team, I think I would have only played Nippon Kempo.I decided to play American football in college, so I’m glad I was able to continue in high school.” Although he only practices every Sunday, he communicates with his friends who attend other high schools via LINE and other channels, and keeps in touch with them about plays regardless of their grade level. “Everyone is a close team, and we always look forward to the next practice day.”

On February 1st, just like last year, we were included in the Hyogo Prefecture rookie game (scrimmage format). Friends who love American football gather every Sunday to exchange positive thoughts and accumulate experience points. The Junior Challengers will soon enter their third year of activity.