Thailand Wins NFL FFWC

　　Thailand Wins NFL Flag Football World Championship In Beijing With Win Over USA; Mexico Claims Third Place

　　THE BANGMOD WITTAYA Middle School lived up to its billing as the tournament’s team to watch with a thrilling 25-19 victory over the Michael Ann-Russell Jewish Community Center (MAR JCC) to win the NFL Flag Football World Championsh

ip (FFWC) for Thailand.

　　Building on a 13-0 halftime lead, Thailand bounced back after being tied at 19-19 by the USA defending world champion and survived a turbulent last 38 seconds, forcing the MAR JCC to turn the ball over on downs at the one-yard line as time ran out.

　　It is the first time the title has been won by an Asian team after Australia, Mexico and three teams from the USA had won the previous five competitions. The NFL is proud to partner with Motorola, Reebok, EA and Gatorade and promote this prestigious tournament, which motivates boys and girls to participate in a fun and safe sport.

　　“We are delighted and honored to be world champions,” said Thailand coach Chanphen Nitiyanan, who played for the team in Vancouver in 2004. “The school has practiced very hard since last year when they only finished seventh and all that effort has paid off. We are all very happy.”

　　USA Head Coach David Fried admitted: “Thailand were the best team in the tournament and they had the two best players here, which I've been saying all week. It's tough to lose, especially because of all the hard work we've put in and it's hard on everyone. We know how it feels to win a world championship, but it's harder to lose one.”

　　Alex Ciklik, who scored all three USA touchdowns in the final, added: “You don't expect a team from somewhere like Thailand to win at an American sport, but they deserved it. Some things went against us and we should have played better in the first half. We outscored them in the second half, but it was too late by then.”

　　Las Aguilas from Monterrey took third place as the Mexicans had too much firepower for the Tomken Road Middle School from Canada in a 35-24 win. Canada led 12-7 at halftime through touchdowns from Javion Kwayan and James Stamopoulos, but Gerardo Cortes added to his earlier score to edge Mexico ahead 14-12. Two Mexico touchdowns in quick succession meant Canada was always chasing the game and despite a late score from Kadeem McPherson on a crossing pattern, Mexico held on.

　　Host nation China claimed fifth place overall, an impressive achievement considering the country’s NFL Flag program is only two years old. The Guangzhou #41 Middle School beat Italy into fifth place. Seventh spot went to Japan, who outlasted Spain by a single point in a thrilling playoff, while Korea claimed ninth place with a 25-20 victory over winless Germany.