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By Jonas Fortune
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:32 p.m. EDT, Jul 05, 2009
CANTON: Team Canada found a way to accomplish what no other team could against Team USA in the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championships: Score a point.
Three of them, to be exact.
It wasn't enough to stop the U.S. players from draping gold medals around their necks as champions of the inaugural tournament with a 41-3 win Sunday in front of 15,473 fans at Fawcett Stadium.
Despite Canada's top seed in the tournament, there was no mistaking who the underdog was in the title game. Neither France nor Mexico scored a point against Team USA, the second seed. Why should anything change in the title game?
''We went out there and we had something to prove,'' Team USA linebacker Storm Klein said. ''. . . .I think our game and what happened out on the field speaks for itself. We are No. 1.''
Klein, an Ohio State recruit, used the motivation to set the tone in this game. He intercepted a pass on Canada's second play of the game, giving Team USA the ball on the Canadian 17.
On the next play, Team USA quarterback Bryce Petty put a perfectly placed ball into the hands of receiver Jamal Davis. The 17-yard touchdown pass gave Team USA a 6-0 lead before the game was a minute old.
''We wanted to come out early and attack them,'' Petty said. ''We have been hunting them ever since they we got here.''
Canada's chances looked even slimmer on its next possession, when Canadian kick returner Adam Thibault caught the kickoff with a foot out of bounds at the 7 yard line. It was a mistake lost in translation from the wider fields used in Canadian football.
Four plays later, Canada was buried on its 1 yard line and forced to punt. But instead, Canadian punter Lirim Hajrullahu dropped his knee into the turf at the back of the end zone for a safety.
The play was more of a sacrifice than a surrender as Team Canada traded two points to keep Team USA away from the short field.
''I thought they were very good on defense. We were punting from our end zone, a short end zone. We didn't have the full 14 yards to punt,'' Team Canada coach Glen Constantin said. ''We thought we would gain some field position that way.''
On Team USA's ensuing possession, Canada forced the Americans into a rare three-and-out possession and an even rarer first-quarter punt.
Canada followed that with a nine-play, 48-yard drive that culminated in the first points scored against Team USA all tournament: a 38-yard field goal by Hajrullahu to make the score 8-3.
''I know if you speak to these other guys, they wanted a challenge. They didn't want to just . . . walk away with a gold medal,'' said Brian Smith, a Walsh Jesuit graduate who will play at Northwestern. ''It was a sense of satisfaction. We beat a good team. We weren't the only good team here. It's good to know football is spreading like that.''
Yet the glimmer of hope for Canada was just that. Four plays later, Petty dashed to his right. As Canadian defenders began to close on him, he pitched the ball to running back David Wilson for a 29-yard touchdown run.
A 27-yard field goal by Mike Loftus extended the score to 18-3 in the second quarter. Petty had two touchdown passes in the third.
''We understood we were going into this tournament against a Division I football team in the making,'' Constantin said. ''We were humble enough to understand that and we never made a big stink out of it. We are No. 1, so be it. We had to play a very good football team down the road and we did today.''
Petty, whose talent had been hidden behind Wilson's spectacular play throughout the tournament, finished a perfect 14-14 passing with 190 yards and three touchdown passes. Those three scoring plays went for 17, 27 and 34 yards.
''The thing about a 14-14 that goes unnoticed is about 12 of those were a five-yard hitch [routes] that [the receivers] just turned and went up the field,'' Petty said. ''Basically what I am saying is, we have athletes.
''I have nothing to do with it. I could get my 12-year-old sister to go out there and throw five-yard passes and they would do the same thing with it.''
Team USA's backup quarterback, Phillip Butterfield, got into the act, too, finishing with 128 yards and a touchdown on 11-of-18 passing.
Wilson's play wasn't as flashy as it had been in the two previous games, although he still managed 94 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. That was good enough to gain tournament MVP honors.
''I think they were the only team to tackle David more than twice; actually on the ground,'' Petty said. ''Not just pushing him out of bounds.''
Jonas Fortune can be reached at jfortune@thebeaconjournal.com.
CANTON: Team Canada found a way to accomplish what no other team could against Team USA in the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championships: Score a point.
Three of them, to be exact.
It wasn't enough to stop the U.S. players from draping gold medals around their necks as champions of the inaugural tournament with a 41-3 win Sunday in front of 15,473 fans at Fawcett Stadium.
Despite Canada's top seed in the tournament, there was no mistaking who the underdog was in the title game. Neither France nor Mexico scored a point against Team USA, the second seed. Why should anything change in the title game?
''We went out there and we had something to prove,'' Team USA linebacker Storm Klein said. ''. . . .I think our game and what happened out on the field speaks for itself. We are No. 1.''
Klein, an Ohio State recruit, used the motivation to set the tone in this game. He intercepted a pass on Canada's second play of the game, giving Team USA the ball on the Canadian 17.
On the next play, Team USA quarterback Bryce Petty put a perfectly placed ball into the hands of receiver Jamal Davis. The 17-yard touchdown pass gave Team USA a 6-0 lead before the game was a minute old.
''We wanted to come out early and attack them,'' Petty said. ''We have been hunting them ever since they we got here.''
Canada's chances looked even slimmer on its next possession, when Canadian kick returner Adam Thibault caught the kickoff with a foot out of bounds at the 7 yard line. It was a mistake lost in translation from the wider fields used in Canadian football.
Four plays later, Canada was buried on its 1 yard line and forced to punt. But instead, Canadian punter Lirim Hajrullahu dropped his knee into the turf at the back of the end zone for a safety.
The play was more of a sacrifice than a surrender as Team Canada traded two points to keep Team USA away from the short field.
''I thought they were very good on defense. We were punting from our end zone, a short end zone. We didn't have the full 14 yards to punt,'' Team Canada coach Glen Constantin said. ''We thought we would gain some field position that way.''
On Team USA's ensuing possession, Canada forced the Americans into a rare three-and-out possession and an even rarer first-quarter punt.
Canada followed that with a nine-play, 48-yard drive that culminated in the first points scored against Team USA all tournament: a 38-yard field goal by Hajrullahu to make the score 8-3.
''I know if you speak to these other guys, they wanted a challenge. They didn't want to just . . . walk away with a gold medal,'' said Brian Smith, a Walsh Jesuit graduate who will play at Northwestern. ''It was a sense of satisfaction. We beat a good team. We weren't the only good team here. It's good to know football is spreading like that.''
Yet the glimmer of hope for Canada was just that. Four plays later, Petty dashed to his right. As Canadian defenders began to close on him, he pitched the ball to running back David Wilson for a 29-yard touchdown run.
A 27-yard field goal by Mike Loftus extended the score to 18-3 in the second quarter. Petty had two touchdown passes in the third.
''We understood we were going into this tournament against a Division I football team in the making,'' Constantin said. ''We were humble enough to understand that and we never made a big stink out of it. We are No. 1, so be it. We had to play a very good football team down the road and we did today.''
Petty, whose talent had been hidden behind Wilson's spectacular play throughout the tournament, finished a perfect 14-14 passing with 190 yards and three touchdown passes. Those three scoring plays went for 17, 27 and 34 yards.
''The thing about a 14-14 that goes unnoticed is about 12 of those were a five-yard hitch [routes] that [the receivers] just turned and went up the field,'' Petty said. ''Basically what I am saying is, we have athletes.
''I have nothing to do with it. I could get my 12-year-old sister to go out there and throw five-yard passes and they would do the same thing with it.''
Team USA's backup quarterback, Phillip Butterfield, got into the act, too, finishing with 128 yards and a touchdown on 11-of-18 passing.
Wilson's play wasn't as flashy as it had been in the two previous games, although he still managed 94 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. That was good enough to gain tournament MVP honors.
''I think they were the only team to tackle David more than twice; actually on the ground,'' Petty said. ''Not just pushing him out of bounds.''
Jonas Fortune can be reached at jfortune@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Canton, OH
Posted 09:31 PM, 07/05/2009
yawn. . .
copley, oh
Posted 09:51 PM, 07/05/2009
OK why are people down on this ? Nobody said boo when are amateurs were getting killed in Baseball bye the likes of Cuba Japan and Korea back in the day.So i dont want to hear it.Ya either support USA or take a walk lol.
Stow, OH
Posted 10:33 PM, 07/05/2009
browns misery35: I think this tournament was ridiculous. Running up scores on kids from other countries that are scarcely familiar with the game does nothing for my national pride. As a matter of fact, it makes me feel like a bit asamed. Also your sense of the history of American amateurs versus foreign professional is way off. It was constant issue that finally resulted in professionalizing the Olympics and other events.
Posted 07:38 AM, 07/06/2009
I'm a little confused as to how Canada was ranked #1 going in. Either way, this was a joke and it's hard for me to believe that this should even be a story. Get back to me when the other countries have caught up.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 08:07 AM, 07/06/2009
Maybe next year, the organizers of this event can schedule a game between the IFAF Champs and the winner of the Lingerie Bowl.
Posted 08:27 AM, 07/06/2009
This tournament was an exercise in absurdity. But it was a huge deal for Canton, I suppose...
KOOKville, oh
Posted 08:50 AM, 07/06/2009
This team should play the Browns.
canton, OH
Posted 03:13 PM, 07/06/2009
Thsi just reminds me that the Hall of Shame week is coming, time for the residents to go out of town on vacation to avoid the Tourons comming to town.
Stow, OH
Posted 07:52 PM, 07/06/2009
I want to add that I am not one bit down on the American kids who played. My disdain is reserved for the adults who sponsored the event.
akron, OH
Posted 05:04 AM, 07/07/2009
come on people these kids that lost to the uninted states aren't a bunch of scrubs thrown together to make team usa look good. in fact this was a well thaught out and well put together tournament these teams compete internationally all the time and every player plays football for a team in his own area if you enjoy football and r a fan you would've enjoyed this past weekends tourney in canton some of you should know what you talking about before you post
Stoney Creek, ON
Posted 12:22 PM, 07/07/2009
Forget about the 3 points that Canada scored, we also had to wait until this game to see Storm Klein get pancaked by an Off Lineman.
