Japan Downs France 35-10
Japan was clearly the superior team, but definitely gave an uneven performance. Some dazzling runs and catches by Naoki Maeda, Michihiro Ogawara, and Ryoma Hagiyama and 73 yards in kick returns by Noriaki Kinoshita overcame an offense that had some good drives, but sputtered occasionally.
Japan's defense was able to bottle up the run for most of the game.
In the second half, France picked up their tempo ans was able to move the ball but as the approached the red zone, repeatedly hurt themselves with mistakes, including consecutive 15 yard penalties to take them out of scoring range. They finished with 10 penalties for 81 yards, and 191 yards total offense, while the Japanese had 352 yards, 237 of it in the air.
Co-MVPs for the game were French QB Maxime Spraule who went (21-33-0) and 233 yards passing; and 42 year young Yasuo Wakisaka who is appearing in his 4th World Cup for Japan.
Japan used their Fly Sweep to get outside, and some effective downfield passing. Japanese QBs Takata and Sugawara went 8-12 and 7-10 respectively.
In the evening game, Canada moved into Austrian terrritory on their first drive, but then stalled. A late hit on their next punt return gave them the ball at the Austrian 34, Michael Pontbriand ripped off a first down, but then fumbled the ball.
Canada received the ball at midfield on a punt for the 2nd time. On 2nd and 13 from their on 48, QB Micahel Faulds fired a perfect strike to Scott Valberg down the right sideline, and it was 7-0 with 5:28 to go in the 1st quarter.
A 32 yard catch and run by Matt Walters put Canada up 14-0. Walters finished with 9 carries for 73 yards, and another 32 yards on 3 catches, scoring 1 TD each.
Late in the half, Gross completed a 54 yard bomb to Jakob Diepplinger set them up at the 13 with half a minute to play. Two consecutive passes to the corner of the end zone were open, but went off the hands of the receiver. On 3rd down, Gross through an interception into the hands of Joel Lipinski, and Canada ran out the clock.
After taking over at midfield (again!) on an interception, Canada began a penalty plagued drive, Canada finally scored from a yard out to make it 21-0.
Canada seemed to be vying with Mexico for the penalty crown, as they amassed 146 yards on 20 penalties. This created a lot of long yardage situations, which they were able to get out of more often than not through significal RAC yardage.
Late in the 3rd Quarter Austria started a drive at its own 42. Going for it on 4th and 10, Gross found Dieplinger on a perfect post for a score to make it 21-7 with 10:01 remaining and the Austrian crowd went nto a frenzy that lasted throughout the 4th Quarter.
But in spite of incredibly loud support that lasted nearly a half hour after the game had finished, Austria was not able to score again.
Faulds was able to find Shamwad Chambers on the next drive wih a 47-yard TD pass, and Canada was able to add another to go up 34-7. They went for 2 and were sueccesful, continuing a disturbing trend.
Canada had just over 400 yards in total offense, as Faulds finished 17-24-0 and 233 yards and 3 TD. Gross was 10-25-2 and 156 yards.
Austria will take on France on Wednesday; Canada will face Japan to determine the Group B champion. Group A champion will be determned tomorrow when Mexico meets Team USA in Innsbruck.
