Both of Friday's winners in Group A on Friday held form Sunday, on fine summer day in front of seven thousand fans, as Mexico and Australia faced off in the afternoon, and Germany met Team USA in the evening.


Mexico had a rather easy time with an Australian team that seemed a bit worn down. They scored late in the 1st quarter on a 4 yard Barrerarun, and followed that with a 76 yard flea flicker from Rodrigo Perez to Jose Antonio Alfonso.

Perez was 18-24 for the half, Mexico led 28-0 at halftime, out-gaining Australia 349 yards to 48.

Australia looked somewhat shell-shocked. They had suffered a 61-0 drubbing by Team USA on Friday.

More personal fouls does nothing to diminish Mexico's "bad boy image". They finished with 148 yards on 16 penalties.

Some were also perplexed by Mexico's decision to go for after a TD put them up 51-0. The attempt to run wide was adequately defensed, but Erick Arzate was able to take it up through a tired line for two points. Coach Rivera said something about needing to put it in, but that earlier in the game was too risky. (???)

After a FG and a Safety made it 58-0 Australia provided a brief moment of excitement for its fans as S Tautinoga Masaga Faletaogo intercepted a Mexican pass with less than 2 minutes to go, but as he crossed midfield lost control of the ball, giving Mexico another possession to score their last to make it 65-0.


The second game was more entertaining, and the game was closer than the final score indicates.

Turnovers and special teams played a big part in this one too:
Germany was able to stop a US drive midway throught the 1st period and started a small drive of their own. Germany lined up for what would have been the first points in the game a 3-0 lead, but Jordan Lake was able to block the kick, DL Johnnie Dingle scooped it up and carried it 75 yards himself for a 7-0 USA lead.

The next drive was mostly Nate Kmic, on passes in the flat, over the middle, or carrying the ball. Hawkins hit him on a crossing route that was stopped just outside the endzone, so coach Tjeerdsmann let him carry it in on the next play to make it 14-0.

Openfield tackling proved problematic for the German squad, as the US gained a lot of return yards, as an interception and returm by Myles Burnsides helped atone for a helmet-to-helmet penalty on the previous play. Kmic later scored from 5 yards out. He was later named game MVP

A late hit out of bounds and roughing the passer on 3rd and long took Germany to the US 24.
UB 24 yard TD pass on a streak from Joachim Ullrich to Christian Bollman to make it 21-7 with 1:15. An excessive celebration penalty, gave the US good field position, and they drove down to the 12 fo, r an apparent FG. But after a time out to "ice the kicker" holder Cody Hawkins picked up the ball and threw to Richie Brockel as time expired for a 28-7 US lead at the half.

Maurice Banks ran back an interception of an Ulrich pass 77 yards for a touchdown midway through the 3rd quarter and it was 34-7.

The Germans went 3 & out on their next possession, but when the snap went over the punter Dennis Wiehberg's head, he kicked it through the end zone. In the earlier game, the Australian punter had done the same thing, and was penalized with a safety, but prevented Mexico from an easy touchdown. The difference here was that wiehberg kicked the ball out from his own 4, and so was punished with a loss of down and half the distance to the goal, giving the US the ball inside the 2 yard line, from whence DeShawn Jackson scored on the next nn the next play.

On the next series, Ullrich completed a pass to Jerome Morris who was hit and dislodged from the ball, which was scooped up by Terrence Jackson and run in from 10 yards out for the final score.

Morris, who was born in Texas, lay on the field motionless for several minutes, was taken from the field on a stretcher and to the hospital for examination, but coach Marshall Happner later said that Morris was conscious and has movement in his extremities.

While the 48 hour turnaround was difficult for both teams, both seemed somewhat sharper than their first game. On Tuesday, Germany plays Australia and Mexico meets USA for the Group A title. Based on their division standings, teams will meet members from Group B this weekend in Vienna.