Thailand Retains Nfl Flag Football Title

[Head Snake]

Here here to the Thais!!

Thailand retains NFL Flag Football title

(Aug. 26, 2006) -- Thailand retained the NFL Flag Football World Championship with a thrilling 45-32 victory over Canada in Cologne, Germany. The Chaopraya Wittayakom School from Bangkok outscored the Ecole River Heights Middle School team from Manitoba and came up with some key defensive plays to deny the Canadians a shot at a comeback. Thailand led 39-32 going into the final minute of action and managed one more score to put the game out of Canada's reach.

"We are very proud to win the championship for Thailand and the Canadian team gave us a very difficult challenge in the final," said running back Yutthana Ngoenmueang. "We worked very hard this week and even though we lost one of our group games we knew we could become champions."

Thailand almost scored on the game's opening play, but Colton Farago halted a lofted connection between Chinnawat Wongsuwan and Natthawut Khambuakhot at the 1-yard line before Ngoenmueang gave Thailand the early lead. That advantage was stretched to 19-7 by halftime and after Thailand's defense held firm. Wongsuwan found Ngoenmueang in the corner of the end zone to establish an 18-point cushion.

The teams traded touchdowns twice before Canada found itself within reach of tying the game at 32-26 when tournament male MVP Ben Allen made a spectacular one-handed catch for a touchdown with 1:22 remaining. But Canada was powerless to stop the speed of Ngoenmueang, who streaked behind the defense that anticipated a run to use up the clock, and caught a touchdown for a 39-26 lead.

Allen again pulled Canada to within seven points, but with 20 seconds remaining and the Thai offense proving difficult to contain, Panumat Winitphon rushed through the middle of the Ecole Heights defense to seal the game at 45-32.

The Fujitsu Junior Frontiers from Kawasaki claimed Japan's highest finish since being runners-up in the inaugural 2000 event by beating Spain's Pere Vives Vich from Igualada into third place. Fifth in the standings went to China's Pei Zhen Middle School of Guangzhou, who pushed Da Vinci College Leonardo of Leiden in the Netherlands into sixth spot. The Schuldorf Bergstrasse Hillsiders from Seeheim Jugenheim finished seventh, Suri Middle School from Seoul, Korea came in eighth, Mexico's Las Aguilas were ninth and the Team USA DAC Panthers finished tenth.

There was double cause for celebration for Canada when receiver Ben Allen was named the tournament's male MVP and Emily Zarychta took the female award.

Gme recaps on the championship game and both semi finals can be found in the news section of the tournament website www.NFL-Flag.com.

Final Standings:

1. Thailand

2. Canada

3. Japan

4. Spain

5. China

6. Netherlands

7. Germany

8. Korea

9. Mexico

10. USA

Final: Thailand 45 Canada 32

Semifinal 1: Spain 13 Thailand 32

Semifinal 2: Canada 31 Japan 20

Game for 7th place: Germany 44 Korea 13

Game for 5th place: China 44 Netherlands 36

Game for 3rd place: Spain 6 Japan 40

Quarterfinal: Spain 30 China 27

Quarterfinal: Canada 45 Germany 18

Quarterfinal: Thailand 48 Korea 25

Quarterfinal: Japan 61 Netherlands 36 Germany 20 Holland 47

China 47 Korea 14

USA 33 Mexico 52

Mexico 44 USA 14

Group A Group B

Canada 4-0 Spain 3-1

Thailand 3-1 Netherlands 2-2

Japan 2-2 Korea 2-2

China 1-3 Germany 1-3

Mexico 0-4 USA 1-3

The NFL is proud to partner with Reebok, EA and Gatorade and promote this prestigious coed tournament, which motivates boys and girls to participate in a fun and safe sport.