Canada thumped by U.S. in football final
Moncton's Ed McNally and Fredericton's Jake Thomas suited up 
for Canada at world junior championship

Published in the Times-Transcript on Monday July 6, 2009
Appeared on Page D4

CANTON, Ohio - Bryce Petty threw three touchdown passes as the United States won the gold medal at the inaugural International Federation of American Football world junior championship with a 41-3 victory against Canada here yesterday.

Virginia Tech running back David Wilson rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown to help the U.S. win the first world tournament of football for players age 19 and under.

The Canadian team featured Moncton linebacker Ed McNally and defensive end Jake Thomas of Douglas, N.B.

The U.S. roster of incoming college freshmen crushed France and Mexico in the first two rounds by a combined score of 133-0 and led top seed Canada 18-3 lead late in the third quarter.

Petty, a Baylor recruit, connected with Kevin Cummings for a 53-yard touchdown, then came back two minutes later with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Erik Lora that put the United States up 32-3 entering the fourth quarter Petty was 14-for-14 passing for 190 yards.

Lirim Hajrullahu's 38-yard field goal late in the first for Canada was the only score the Americans allowed in the tournament.

Steven Lumbala rushed for 32 yards on 10 carries for Canada and quarterback Jeremie Doyon-Roch completed 5-of-17 passes for 45 yards, but his first-quarter interception gave the Americans an early start.

Storm Klein of Ohio State stepped in front of a pass on the second play of the game to give the Americans the ball on the Canada 17-yard line. Petty threw a touchdown pass to Jamal Davis on the following play.

Wilson's 29-yard run late in the first quarter gave him eight touchdowns in the tournament, tops among all players.

Japan won the bronze medal, Mexico finished fourth, Germany was fifth, Sweden was sixth, France was seventh and New Zealand was eighth.

Canada received the top seed for its strong history in junior international play, and the U.S. received an automatic bid for serving as the host.

The remaining six countries clinched bids by winning regional qualifiers around the world.

The next world junior championship is scheduled for 2012, and will be played every two years thereafter.