USA Football

The United States’ Senior National Football Team (3-0) defeated Japan (2-1) in double-overtime Sunday evening, 23-20, in Kawasaki, Japan, to win the 2007 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Championship.  For Team USA, the country’s first American Football

national team and managed by USA Football, the win earns America an IFAF World Championship in its tournament debut.  Japan won each of the previous two tournaments in 1999 and 2003.

Running back KYLE KASPERBAUER of Nebraska-Omaha, and a St. Paul, Neb., native, rushed for 65 yards (4.3-yard average) and two touchdowns on 15 carries against host Japan while Southern Illinois kicker CRAIG COFFIN (Southern Illinois; Cape Coral, Fla.) made three field goals, including a 23-yard game-winner in double-overtime.  The 5-8, 179-pound Kasperbauer was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player for his 168 rushing yards and three TDs in Team USA’s three victories.

“The biggest thing was to come out here and represent our country and we did a good job of that,” said Kasperbauer.  “When Craig kicked that ball through the uprights, it was bliss.  You couldn’t ask for a better ending.”

Trailing 10-7 at halftime, U.S. quarterback ADAM AUSTIN (Arizona; Mundelein, Ill.) engineered a 17-yard scoring drive, culminating in a 35-yard Coffin field goal to tie the score at 10-10.  Team Japan responded with a 46-yard TD drive to take a 17-10 lead with 7:07 left in regulation.

Guided by USA Head Coach JOHN MACKOVIC, Austin rallied his teammates again for an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped by a five-yard Kasperbauer TD run to knot the game at 17-17 with 2:51 remaining.  The Japanese concluded regulation with a three-and-out possession, thanks in large part to a five-yard loss on first down at the hands of U.S. defensive tackle SHELTON BYNUM (North Carolina; Ellenwood, Ga.). 

Both teams scored field goals in their first overtime possessions.  Defensive tackle CHRIS THORNER (Syracuse; Suffield, Conn.) deflected Japan’s second-overtime field goal attempt, which opened the door for Coffin’s game-winning kick.  Free safety JOSH KUBIAK (Mary Hardin-Baylor; Granbury, Texas) led Team USA’s defense with seven tackles.  Safety KENNY CHICOINE (Cal Poly; Huntington Beach, Calif.) made a first-quarter interception for the American squad, which was converted into points on Kasperbauer’s first TD run.

“It’s really hard to express how I feel right now,” said Japanese Head Coach TOSHIAKI ABE, whose team suffered its first loss in nine IFAF World Championship games, dating back to 1999.  “We’ve had our target set on the United States since March.”

The IFAF World Championship, a global tournament held every four years, consisted of a six-nation field in 2007: France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden, and the United States, respectively. 

Team USA Results

2007 International Federation of American Football World Championship

Contact: Steve Alic, USA Football, 703-992-8325; salic@usafootball.com

About USA Football

USA Football is a non-profit organization leading the development and growth of youth, high school, and international amateur football.  In its role as the national governing body, USA Football, endowed by the NFL and NFL Players Association in 2002, provides programs and resources to inspire participation and improve the quality of the sport.  For more, go to USAFootball.com.