CANTON, Ohio — Alex Anthony of Victoria scored the winning touchdown with 16 seconds left in the game to give Canada a 38-35 victory over Japan and a berth in the final at the 2009 IFAF World Junior Championships in Canton, Ohio.
With Canada leading 28-21, Japan pulled even with six and half minutes remaining in the fourth quarter scoring its first TD of the game. With 90 seconds to go, the Japanese grabbed a 35-31 lead on a 33-yard passing play.
Anthony capped a 64-yard scoring drive catching a 36-yard pass from 17-year-old quarterback Jérémi Doyon-Roch of LaSalle, Que., and fended off five tackle attempts en route to the end zone to assure Canada the victory.
Other Canadian star players included running back Steven Lumbala of Calgary with two touchdowns,
while Canada’s other QB Brandon Bridge of Mississauga, Ont., and running back Guillaume Bourassa of La Tuque, Que., scored one TD each.
“We looked at each other and we knew it was possible to win,” said Doyon-Roch, named Canada’s game MVP. ‘’Pressure doesn’t bother me. I stayed calm and didn’t alter my plays.
“In those situations you can’t overreact. If we want to win gold we’ll have to give 100 percent in the final for the entire game.”
Canada’s head coach Glen Constantin warned his players not to take the Japanese lightly.
“We have a young but mature team,” said Constantin. “I hope they learned that they have to pay the price. To march nearly 70 yards in the dying moments of the game is very special. The days off before the final will help the guys recover from an emotional game. They are ready for the next challenge. They know there’s still work to do.”
Sunday’s final is set for 1 p.m. Canada faces Team USA.
In Wednesday’s other games Sweden defeated France 21-14 and Germany beat New Zealand 52-7.
