Canada 31 Japan 30
Canada’s defense stopped Japan in the final seconds of the NFL Flag Football World Championship to reach the final where the Ecole River Heights team from Manitoba will face Thailand’s Chaopraya Wittayakom School from Bangkok.
Colton Farago came up with a timely interception in the end zone with 14 seconds on the clock to preserve a narrow 31-30 lead as Japanese quarterback Takeru Yoshihara threw a desperation pass on fourth down.
Canada owed victory to its defensive prowess, scoring the game winning touchdown pass to Ben Allen in the corner of the end zone after he had come up with a vital interception of Yoshihara with only three minutes to play. Vincenzo Cannata twice sacked the Japanese quarterback inside the two-minute warning to pin back the Fujitsu Junior Frontiers from Kawasaki.
Japan held the upper hand in the first half, opening the scoring before leading 24-13 at the break. Cannata reduced the arrears immediately after halftime, but Japan struck again through Kensuke Takahasi to move 30-19 in front.
The momentum swung on the play of the day when forced into passing long and putting points on the board with some urgency, Canada’s star receiver Allen came down with a high bomb pass that flew virtually the length of the field. On the next play he caught a toss into the end zone and Canada trailed by only five points.
Allen’s pick then led to the go-ahead score and delirious celebration among the traveling Canadian support once the defense had held Japan in check.