IFAF U19: American Samoa rushes all over Panama

American Samoa finished with 606 yards in total offense, the second-highest total in tournament history, and limited Panama to eight yards of offense, the second-lowest total in tournament history.

“We haven’t played our best yet, from Saturday to today,” said American Samoa head coach Pooch Teaase. “It’s great that we have one more game against France. We haven’t played our best and I think they pitched a shutout today too so we’ve got to play our best game against France for the final game to get us home.

“We’re at .500 now, 1-1, so we’ve got to get one more game and that’s the beauty of this tournament.”

Bruce Scanlan rushed for 121 yards on six carries and two scores to pace a Samoa ground attack that found the end zone six times on the night. Quarterback Ben Langford threw for 159 yards and a touchdown.

After forcing a Panama punt on its first series, Scanlan opened the scoring with a 53-yard touchdown run on the Samoan’s first play from scrimmage, taking a pitch on a counter play from Langford and streaking untouched down the left sideline.

“This took focus and working through the team,” said Scanlan. “After our recent loss it’s all been about teamwork and sticking together.

“This win means a lot to us. Most of us were feeling down so it motivated the team to perform better and tonight we showed our talent.”

Kicking from its own 45 due to a Panama personal foul on the scoring run, American Samoa squibbed the kickoff and recovered the ball at the Panama 41. Four plays later Scanlan found the end zone again, this time from 8 yards out and American Samoa led 14-0 with 8:05 to go in the first quarter.

American Samoa upped its lead to 20-0 on a 16-yard touchdown run by Langford and a failed two-point conversion attempt early in the second quarter.

Leading 20-0 midway through the second quarter, punter Shalom Luani scampered 36 yards on a fake punt to set American Samoa up at the Panama 21 but Joel Doiny ended the threat with an interception in the end zone two plays later.

On first down on the ensuing series Panama quarterback Ernesto Calvo found Adrian Flores for a 36-yard gain into American Samoa territory. A personal foul on the Samoans put the ball at the 29-yard line but the Panamanian offense stalled and American Samoa took over on downs.

Langford then moved the Samoans 71 yards in eight plays to up the lead to 26-0 on a seven-yard touchdown run by Ietiaia Manu and end the first half scoring.

American Samoa wasted little time getting on the board in the second half with Manu capping a five-play 94-yard drive with a 36-yard touchdown run for a 33-0 lead. The lead moved to 40-0 with 2:01 to go in the third quarter when Langford connected for this first scoring pass of the night with wide receiver Jamie Tago.

American Samoa continued to grind out yards on the ground, passing the 400-yard rushing mark early in the fourth quarter, extending the lead to 48-0 on a 7-yard touchdown run by back-up quarterback Fagalilo Oa and a two-point conversion tally by Tago.

Luani tacked on a 23-yard field goal with 1:46 to go for the final margin.

Scanlan earned MVP honors for American Samoa while linebacker Alejandro Boyd earned MVP honors for Panama with 13 tackles.

American Samoa will play France in the 5th place game on July 6, while Panama will meet Sweden in the 7th place game on July 6.

“They knew we were going to play a very tough team,” said Panama head coach Raul Arosemena of his team. “We saw them play the U.S. They are active, disciplined. They were a little overpowering in the beginning, but we fought.

“We have to elevate our game, be more dedicated to football and get people to support us back home. It’s been a learning experience all the time. We are going to put our best effort in the next game, and hopefully someday be better.”

Games will air on a live webcast on CanadaFootballChat.com at (http://www.canadafoo…/live_games.php).

Schedule (all times CST)

Saturday, June 30

Panama 0 vs. Austria 40

Japan 27 vs. France 6

Canada 43 vs. Sweden 0

USA 27 vs. American Samoa 6

Tuesday, July 3

France 41 vs. Sweden 0

Panama 0 vs. American Samoa 51

Wednesday, July 4

5 PM
Japan vs. Canada

8 PM
Austria vs. USA

Friday, July 6

5 PM
Seventh-Place Game

8 PM
Fifth-Place Game

Saturday, July 7

5 PM
Bronze Medal Game

8 PM
Gold Medal Game

FINAL 2012 Junior National Team roster

Quarterbacks
Will Finch / Burlington, ON
Dallon Kuprowski / Kanata, ON
Hugo Richard / St-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC

Running Backs
Christopher Amoah / Lachine, QC
Andreas Robinson / Dartmouth, NS
Mercer Timmis / Burlington, ON

Receivers
Regis Cibasu / Montréal, QC
Doug Corby / Burlington, ON
A’dre Fraser / Lawrencetown, NS
Tylor Henry / Camrose, AB
Alexandre Huard / Laval, QC
Alexandre Savard / Lorraine, QC
Ryan Smith / Sherwood Park, AB

Offensive Line
Kadeem Adams / Halifax, NS
Louis-Gabriel Beaudet / Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC
Andrew Boisvert / Sherwood Park, AB
Lloyd Constant / Montréal, QC
Emilio Frometa / Sudbury, ON
Nathan Heide / Warman, SK
Erick Lessard / Sudbury, ON
David Knevel / Brantford, ON
Jean-Simon Roy / Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC

Defensive Line
Edward Godin Gosselin / Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC
Quinn Horton / Winnipeg, MB
Jacob Leblanc / Halifax, NS
Clement Lebreux / Candiac, QC
Glen Joorisity / Deer Valley, SK
Adam Melanson / Kentville, NS
Charles Rémy-Sarrazin / Montréal, QC
Brett Wade / Regina, SK

Linebackers
Pierre-Luc Caron / Laval, QC
Tanner Doll / St. Albert, AB
Maxime Drolet / Québec, QC
Nicholas Easterbrook / Laval, QC
Jean-Gabriel Poulin / St-Nicolas, QC
John Rush / Port Robinson, ON
Marc-Antoine Varin / St-Hippolyte, QC

Defensive Backs
Keldyn Ahlstedt / Whitby, ON
Keegan Arnyek / Moose Jaw, SK
Tomy Duperron / Sherbrooke, QC
Khadim Mbaye / Laval, QC
Kevin McGee / Sherbrooke, QC
Rees Paterson / Sherwood Park, AB
Michael Schmidt / Calgary, AB

Kicker, Punter
Louis-Philippe Simoneau / Saint-Hyachinthe, QC

Coaching and Support Staff

Noel Thorpe / Head Coach

Warren Craney / Defensive Coordinator – Linebackers
Pat Boies / Offensive Coordinator
Gilles Lezi / Special Teams Coordinator- Running Backs
Michael Faulds / Quarterbacks
Alain Mainguy / Offensive Line
Kamau Peterson / Receivers
Brian Guebert / Defensive Line
Devin Murphy / Defensive Backs

Patrick Gendron / Athletic Therapist
Jean-Baptiste Laporte / Athletic Therapist
Jeremy Clouthier / Video Coordinator
Jacques Guilbault / Equipment manager
Elliott Richardson / Strength and Conditioning Coach

Players by Province:
Quebec – 20
Ontario – 9
Alberta – 6
Nova Scotia – 5
Saskatchewan – 4
Manitoba – 1