Fujitsu kicker Hidetetsu Nishimura nailed a game-winning 45-yard field goal as time expired to help the Frontiers book a spot in the Japan X Bowl for the fourth consecutive year with a 28-26 win over the IBM Big Blue in the X League playoff semifinals at Fujitsu Stadium Kawasaki on Sunday afternoon.

With three minutes left in the third quarter, former UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft hit tight end John Stanton for a touchdown pass that gave the Big Blue a 26-22 lead. But IBM made some critical errors and wasn't able to extend its lead in the fourth quarter, with one drive ending with a blocked field goal attempt and Craft fumbling away another. IBM didn't score during the quarter.

Nishimura hit a field goal during the fourth quarter that trimmed IBM's lead to one point with 7:50 remaining.