Talented Canadian players are proving they can play the American version of football, too. Led by legendary Western Mustangs coach Larry Haylor and recently-retired former CFL star Adriano Belli, Team Canada is off to a 2-0 start at the fourth International Federation of American Football World Cup in Austria. Despite having to adapt to four-down football played by NCAA rules on smaller fields, the Canadians have pulled together and dominated their matches so far. After a close start against France Saturday that saw a deadlocked score of 7-7 after the first quarter, Canada pulled away for a 45-10 victory. Monday's game against the Austrian hosts was closer in terms of the final score (36-14), but Canada led all the way through and all of Austria's points came in the final quarter.
So far, the Canadian team has gotten tremendous performances from players throughout their lineup, largely composed of current and ex-CIS players with a few other additions like Belli and fellow CFL veteran Sherko Haji-Rasouli. Against France, one of the most impressive performances came from former Western quarterback Michael Faulds (seen above during the 2009 East-West CIS all-star game), who had spent the last year coaching football instead of playing it (as the offensive coordinator at York University). Faulds completed 17 of 24 passes (70.8 per cent) for 207 yards and a touchdown. He did throw an interception, but he also ripped off a 57-yard touchdown run. Backups Josh Sacobie (a former Ottawa Gee-Gee) and Donnie Marshall (current Western quarterback and son of Greg, Western's head coach and Canada's offensive coordinator) also threw touchdown passes in that win. Other notable showings against the French came from running backs Matt Walter (current member of the Calgary Dinos and a Calgary Stampeders draft pick), who picked up 46 yards and a touchdown on just six carries (7.7 yards per carry) and David Stevens (a former member of the Saskatchewan Huskies), who collected 42 yards on just five carries (8.4 yards per carry). Laurier receiver Shamawd Chambers, perhaps one of the top prospects for the 2012 CFL draft, also had a nice day, hauling in five passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.
In the game against Austria, Walter (74 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, 8.2 yards per carry) and Stevens (50 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, 5.0 yards per carry) again shone on the ground, and Faulds had a very impressive day throwing the football. He recorded 17 completions on 24 attempts again, for 233 yards and three touchdowns without an interception this time. Receiver Scott Valberg (a former Queen's star) was Faulds' top target, hauling in six catches for 108 yards and a touchdown, but Chambers (three catches, 60 yards and a touchdown) and Walter (three catches, 32 yards and a touchdown) were also key weapons in the receiving game. The defence also had a very impressive game, holding the hosts completely off the board until the final quarter.
Canada plays their final game of the group stage Wednesday against Japan (3 p.m. local, so 9 a.m. Eastern), and a berth in the final is on the line. The Japanese have an impressive history at this tournament, winning the first two editions in 1999 and 2003 and only falling to the Americans in double overtime in the 2007 final. This year's Japan squad isn't going to be easy to knock off either, as they beat Austria 24-6 and defeated France 35-10.
The Japanese passing offence hasn't been the most impressive so far, though. Starting quarterback Tetsuo Takata only completed eight of his 16 passes (50 per cent) against Austria for just 88 yards. He was better against France, completing eight of 12 passes (66.7 per cent) for 107 yards and a touchdown, but still wasn't the only Japanese quarterback used (they used three different guys who threw for a total of 237 yards and two touchdowns). Japan is a run-oriented team, which makes sense given that the tournament's played under the run-friendly American rules (four downs). Their collection of running backs ran 29 times for 115 yards (4.0 per carry) against France, and 31 times for 149 yards (an average of 4.8 per carry). If Belli and the Canadian defensive line can shut down the Japanese rushing attack, Canada could be well on the way to victory.
Canada can't look too far ahead, but whoever wins the Japan-Canada clash will face the dominant Americans in the title game. The U.S. team, with plenty of former NCAA talent, rolled through their first two games, clobbering Australia 61-0 and beating Germany 48-7, but only managed a 17-7 victory against Mexico. They have an impressive lineup, though, including former Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins, former Southeast Missouri State tailback Henry Harris and oddly enough, a CIS guy; Western running back Da'shawn Thomas, and they'll be a formidable opponent for whoever comes out on top in Canada-Japan. That gold-medal game is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. local (1 p.m. Eastern).
For more information, including links to live streams of games, check out the tournament's official Twitter feed and website.
Mýa Natalie Imbruglia Patricia Velásquez Jennifer Morrison Adrianne Palicki
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