Team USA beat Mexico 16-0 to secure a place in the NFL Global Junior Championship final on Saturday against Canada. By Jeff Garza

Team USA’s initial drive was stopped at the Mexico 45 after Justin Lee was stuffed on an inside carry on third-and-one.

Mexico took over deep in their own end zone after a 33-yard punt by Tom Picinic. With the ball on their own 11-yard line, Mexico snapped the ball over Oscar Cruz’s head through the end zone for a safety.

Leading 2-0, Team USA took advantage of the free kick. On second down, Frederick Bruno rushed up the middle for 20 yards to the Mexico 43. A 14-yard third-down conversion to TE Michael Hellman kept the drive alive. Four plays later Mexico denied USA their second touchdown of the game, stopping the Americans on fourth down at the Mexico 9 with 00:06 seconds before halftime. Mexico took a knee to end the first half with Team USA leading 2-0.

Mexico started off the second half with excitement. The first play from scrimmage was completed to Sebastian Solorzano for 18 yards. Team USA’s Bryan Blanfort had a chance for an interception as he bobbled the ball into Mexican WR Solorzano possession for a Mexico first down. The drive ended five plays later as Mexico was forced to punt.

Team USA’s first possession of the second half began on their own 8. The Americans moved the ball to their own 41 before QB Derek Rifenbury fumbled the football and was recovered by Mexico’s Joab Blas.

Mexico turned the ball over on downs, and the Americans took advantage. Justin Lee carried the ball twice for 37 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown run with 1:17 remaining in the game. The 5-play, 68-yard drive was by far the most impressive of the game. Lee’s touchdown gave the American’s a 9-0 lead.

The Mexicans made it interesting as they marched deep into Team USA’s territory. Mexico’s hope was ruined by a 96-yard interception return for a touchdown by CB Anonio Gaitor with 00:07 seconds remaining, giving Team USA a 16-0 victory.

Team USA totaled 173 yards, including73 yards rushing and a touchdown by Lee.

The Championship Game between Team USA (2-0) and Canada (2-0) will take place Saturday at 3 p.m. in Lockhart Stadium. Canada defeated Team USA 10-0 last year in Detroit. Canada will be playing looking for its third consecutive title as it has won the previous two years.

Team USA’s South Florida all-stars overwhelmed Panama in a convincing 27-0 victory to set up a winner takes all first round clash with Mexico. The winners will take on Canada in the NFL Global Junior Championship final on Saturday ay 3pm. By Derick Thornton

Team USA’s second play from scrimmage was a 32-yard touchdown run by running back Justin Lee, but the play was negated due to a penalty. Two plays later, Panama’s defense looked to have forced USA to punt, but a roughing the passer penalty was called giving Team USA a first down. Team USA quarterback Frederick Bruno made it 6-0 after he faked his handoff to Lee and sprinted pass the Panamanian defenders for a 20-yard touchdown run with 5:34 remaining in the first half.

Panama, making their second appearance in the NFL Global Junior Championship, had minus eight total yards and two punts in the first half.

Team USA’s second possession saw the other quarterback, Derek Rifenbury, connect with his talented entourage of backs and receivers, including Jasper Howard and Kenny Mantuo. Panama’s Cesar Tucker made a good open field tackle on Jason Frierson to force a field goal attempt by Team USA. Brady Coldwell’s attempt hit the crossbar as time expired in the half.

The second half began with a cheeky onside kick attempt by Panama, which Team USA recovered at the Panamanian 48-yard line.

Team USA’s Justin Lee finished off the seven-play, 48-yard drive with a dashing 19-yard run around the right side of the Panamanian defense 2:12 into the second half. Lee later converted the two-point conversion to make the game 14-0.

Running back Kenny Mantuo scored Team USA third touchdown of the game with a 33-yard blistering run down the sideline on the second play of their second possession. The extra point was no good.

The ensuing kick off was fumbled by Carlos Arturo Hoyos and recovered by Derek Anglin of Team USA. On the next play running back Junior Allen joined the score sheet running through the defense for a 20-yard run to cap the scoring to 27-0 with 4:33 left in the game.

Team USA had a total of 219 yards, with 178 yards coming from the ground. The biggest yard gainer of the day for Panama was a 21-yard pass by Roberto Sanchez to Lucas Zarak at the 4:16 mark. Sanchez was 5-8 for 32 yards in the game.

Panama will play France in the third place game on Saturday at 8:30 am.

Mexico drew first blood in the American Conference in the quest to meet Canada in Saturday's final at Lockhart Stadium with  6-0 victory over Panama. By Juan Penagos

Panama began by winning the toss but elected to kick the ball to begin the game. Mexico got off to a slow start with a quick three and out but things would go from bad to worse when a bad snap would force Mexico to take an 11 yard loss and a turnover on downs on their own 26 yard line.

Panama began the game struggling as well, with their first drive seeing gains of only 3 yards on their first two downs and losing 5 yards on third down, caused from a sack by Mexico’s Vargas. Their gamble to go for the end zone on fourth down failed as Mexico quarterback Diaz’s pass to Molino was incomplete.

With 5:39 on the clock, Mexico began their second drive with more initiative as they marched down the field with a 2 yard run by Espinoza. Quarterback Cruz drove his team down the field with a series of 10 and 13 yard pass completions to Holguin and Solorzano. A holding penalty against Team Mexico would add 10 more yards to take the ball to the Mexico 41 yard line. After a first down incompletion, Panama’s Cruz completed his next two passes for 6 and 32 yards to Gonzalez and Holguin, but a quick three and out forced Panama to attempt a 34 yard field goal that would come up short and slow down Mexico’s attack.

The turnover saw the ball spotted on the 20-yard line as Panama looked to capitalize on Mexico’s mistakes. On their first play of the drive, Diaz’s pass was intercepted by Martinez, a critical play that would give the ball back to Mexico at Team Panama’s 40 yard line.

With 1:03 left in the half, Mexico’s Cruz completed 3 of his next 4 passes for 6, 22 and 5 yards before an incomplete pass forced another field goal attempt. This time around, the 28 yard field goal from Incapie was good as Mexico took a 3-0 lead at halftime.

The second half kicked off with Panama looking to get on the board quickly. After Diaz completed his three passes Canul forced Dias’s pass to be intercepted by Mexico’s Martinez at the Mexico 46-yard line.

Mexico began their drive with 7:06 left in the game with a Magallanes rush to the left side for a 25 yard run and first down as Mexico began to establish their running game. Mexico’s reliable kicker Incapie, proved his merit this time around as the 29 yard kick sailed through the uprights with 4:27 to give Mexico a 6-0 lead.

Panama mounted a late drive, but were unable to muster the tying score.

If heart and determination won football games then Japan would have booked a place in the final of the NFL Global Junior Championship, but instead they fell to a narrow 7-0 loss to defending champion Canada. By Jeff Garza

The Japanese received the ball first after Canada won the coin flip, deferring their choice until the second half. Japan started on their own 20 and drove the ball down to the Canada 23 before a penalty stalled a promising drive.

Japan forced Canada to punt and on the ensuing drive gave the ball right back to the Canadians after an interception by Kyle Smith. Canada took advantage of the turnover and good field position by scoring on a 2-yard run by Edem Nyamadi with 1:24 remaining in the first half. The run finished the 4-play, 29-yard drive.

Japan responded quickly with back-to-back plays of 22 and 25 yards. After an incompletion, the Japanese ran an end-around taking the ball to the Canada 19. A penalty on third down denied Japan a first and goal and turned out to be the game’s decisive play. Yoshitaka Imae then attempted a 36-yard field goal that fell short with 00:01 second remaining in the first half, leaving Canada with a 7-0 lead at halftime.

The Canadians started the second half on their own 20-yard line after a touchback by Yoshitaka Imae. A 22-yard completion to Anthony Woodson was for nothing as Japan forced Canada to punt on their next set of downs.

Starting at their own 24, Japan used a 22-yard run by Takashi Kurihara to take them down to the Canada 40. The Japanese reached the Canada 20 before a couple of incompletions and a 7-yard sack forced Japan into a fourth-and-twelve. Japan decided to fake a field goal, coming up short of the first down.

With 3:23 remaining in the football game, Canada began their attempt to run out the clock on their own 20. They were successful, running nine plays, for 73 yards before taking a knee on the Japan 7 to end the game.

After a 7-0 victory, Canada improved their record to 2-0, and solidified their spot in the championship game for the third consecutive year. Canada will play Saturday, February 3, at 3 p.m. in Lockhart Stadium. Their opponent has yet to be determined.

Defending Global Junior Champions Team Canada began their title defense with a hard fought victory over Team France 14-0. By Derick Thornton.

Team France brought a physical approach to the game, but was unable to stop to Canada’s running attack.

The French offense struggle in their opening game lost to Japan and had their opening drive of the game end in a three and out.

On Team Canada’s first possession, quarterback Bruno Prud’homme found his running back Edem Nyamadi on a screen pass for a 24-yard gain to put Canada at France’s six yard line. Two plays later, Anthony Woodson powered his way on a 1-yard touchdown run to give Canada a 7-0 lead at the 4:31 mark in the first half.

France quarterback Max Saint Denis first pass of the game was picked off by Canada’s Nicolas Arseneault-Hum at France’s 47-yard line. Canada’s Prud’homme threw a deep pass to Anthony Parker for 34 yards to put Team Canada in field goal range. However, the French defense stuffed the run and forced Canada to attempt a 27-yard field goal, which kicker Dan Village missed wide right with 1:37 left in the first half.

Team France kicked off the second half down 7-0 and gained momentum by forcing Canada to a three and out on their first possession of the half. Team France quarterback Paul Durand had an impressive two play series; he ran for France first 1^st down of the game then threw an accurate pass over the middle to Jeremy Rabot to Canada’s 30 yard line.

The next play, Durand mishandled the snap from the shotgun formation and Canada’s Marc-Antoine L-Fortin recovered at Canada’s 34 yard line with 5:52 left in the game.

Team Canada’s attempt to seal the game was halted with a penalty making it second and 26, although a late hit by a French player gave Canada new life with a first down with 3:30 left in the game. Three plays later, Woodson scored his second touchdown of the game, finding a gap on toss right run for a 22-yard touchdown.

Woodson finished the game with six rushing attempts for 42 yards and two touchdowns. Canada’s quarterbacks Prud’Homme and Dalin Tollestrup combine for 7 of 9 attempts passing and 91 yards passing. France wide receiver Jeremy Rabot had two receptions for 22 yards.

France will play the third placed team in the American Conference, which consists of Mexico, Panama, and the USA, on Saturday, February 3 at 8:30 am.

Japan kicked off the 2007 Global Junior Championship XI with a dominating 28-0 victory over France.
By Jeff Garza

The game started with some trickery as France tried to catch Japan off guard with an onside kick, but Akinobu Soma recovered the kick at the 50-yard line.

After a France punt, Japan scored the first points of the game on a quick, 3-play, 60-yard drive that ended on a 23-yard touchdown toss to Naohiko Shibata. The Japanese continued to show it’s dominance through the air on their next possession as Hiroshi Matsuda connected with Takashi Kurihara for a 29-yard touchdown, his second of the first half with 0:15 left before halftime. With 114 first-half yards, Japan took a commanding 14-0 lead into halftime.

The second half started with a 17-yard kickoff return by France’s Jeremy Rabot. The drive was stopped quickly as Japan DB Naosuke Kikkawa recovered a Steve Delaval fumble in the France end zone for a touchdown, giving Japan a 21-0 lead with 07:32 remaining.

France was forced to kick its third punt of the game giving Japan great field position once again. Starting on the France 40-yard line, Japan called four consecutive runs resulting in their second 60-yard scoring drive of the day. Takaaki Muraoka capped the drive off with a 23-yard touchdown run.

The touchdown run was the game’s final score giving Japan the first victory of the tournament. The Japanese dominated on both sides of the football, holding France to 35 yards, while not allowing the French to reach midfield. Japan QB Hiroshi Matsuda finished the game with 68 yards passing and two touchdown passes. RB Satoshi Kawahara had a game-high 48 yards rushing on four carries.

All photos by Paul Martinez

Buy tickets priced $5 per day for games at Lockhart Stadium on Wednesday January 31 and Saturday February 3