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Just about everything Mel Tjeerdsma touches turns to gold.
In this case, it was the U.S. Men’s National Football Team.
A month ago, they were strangers spread across the United States.
On Saturday, a half a world away, they became champions.
The U.S. team earned the gold medal at the IFAF Senior World Championship, beating Canada, 50-7.
Team USA defended its 2007 title by outscoring four opponents, 176-21, earning Tjeerdsma a Gatorade bath, a wide-eyed smile and memories to last a lifetime.
Tjeerdsma led Northwest Missouri State to three NCAA Division II national championships. This one will remain just as special in his heart.
“We didn’t hold anything back,” Tjeerdsma said. “We have only been together for three weeks. We are really proud of our players and the preparation they put in”
Two of Tjeerdsma's former players were recognized for their efforts during the tournament. Offensive lineman Dane Wardenburg was a first-team all-tournament selection, and defensive lineman Tyler Roach was a second-team pick.
Roach recorded a second-half sack Saturday. Another former Bearcat, Diezeas Calbert, played an active role with four tackles and a forced fumble.
Team USA started slowly as a 1-yard Nate Kmic touchdown run produced the only points of the first quarter.
Canada had a chance to strike right back and even the score, but a long pass fell off the receivers’ hands. The momentum that could have been was lost, and soon so was Canada’s chances as Team USA built a 37-7 halftime lead.
Team USA scored 30 of its 37 first half points in the second quarter.
Backup QB Matt Bassuener followed the blocks of Nick Rossi and Luke Summers to score from 23 yards out and make it 14-0.
Sacks by Daniel Catalano and Charles Bay pinned Canada against its own end zone, leading to the Canadians taking a safety instead of punting on fourth down.
Following the free kick, a long return by Ricardo Leinhart and a long run by Henry Harris led to a 7-yard TD run by quarterback Cody Hawkins and a 23-0 U.S. lead.
Another Canada punt, another American score, this one a 27-yard pass from Hawkins to Joe Sturdivant to make it 30-0.
Canada finally got on the scoreboard with 6.8 seconds left in the half, but the U.S. was not done. An onside kick was recovered at the Canada 38, and Hawkins hit Lenhart to cap the first-half scoring and send the teams to the locker room.
Just about everything Mel Tjeerdsma touches turns to gold.
In this case, it was the U.S. Men’s National Football Team.
A month ago, they were strangers spread across the United States.
On Saturday, a half a world away, they became champions.
The U.S. team earned the gold medal at the IFAF Senior World Championship, beating Canada, 50-7.
Team USA defended its 2007 title by outscoring four opponents, 176-21, earning Tjeerdsma a Gatorade bath, a wide-eyed smile and memories to last a lifetime.
Tjeerdsma led Northwest Missouri State to three NCAA Division II national championships. This one will remain just as special in his heart.
“We didn’t hold anything back,” Tjeerdsma said. “We have only been together for three weeks. We are really proud of our players and the preparation they put in”
Two of Tjeerdsma's former players were recognized for their efforts during the tournament. Offensive lineman Dane Wardenburg was a first-team all-tournament selection, and defensive lineman Tyler Roach was a second-team pick.
Roach recorded a second-half sack Saturday. Another former Bearcat, Diezeas Calbert, played an active role with four tackles and a forced fumble.
Team USA started slowly as a 1-yard Nate Kmic touchdown run produced the only points of the first quarter.
Canada had a chance to strike right back and even the score, but a long pass fell off the receivers’ hands. The momentum that could have been was lost, and soon so was Canada’s chances as Team USA built a 37-7 halftime lead.
Team USA scored 30 of its 37 first half points in the second quarter.
Backup QB Matt Bassuener followed the blocks of Nick Rossi and Luke Summers to score from 23 yards out and make it 14-0.
Sacks by Daniel Catalano and Charles Bay pinned Canada against its own end zone, leading to the Canadians taking a safety instead of punting on fourth down.
Following the free kick, a long return by Ricardo Leinhart and a long run by Henry Harris led to a 7-yard TD run by quarterback Cody Hawkins and a 23-0 U.S. lead.
Another Canada punt, another American score, this one a 27-yard pass from Hawkins to Joe Sturdivant to make it 30-0.
Canada finally got on the scoreboard with 6.8 seconds left in the half, but the U.S. was not done. An onside kick was recovered at the Canada 38, and Hawkins hit Lenhart to cap the first-half scoring and send the teams to the locker room.
Team USA outgained Canada, 281-108, in the first half as Hawkins was already 12-of-17 for 161 yards. Harris had nine carries for 77 yards, and Kmic – who would be named Tournament MVP – had five catches for 42 yards.
The estimated crowd of 20,000 clapped and cheered throughout the display, entertained by the U.S. dominance of the sport born here but is spreading worldwide with the help of 59 sanctioned national governing bodies spread across the globe.
The U.S. captured the favor of the Vienna, Austria, audience and carried it through the postgame on-field celebration and medal ceremony.
“Full credit has to go to the Americans. Team USA played well from the opening drive to the closing drive,” Canada head coach Larry Haylor said. “Their offense is balanced and it just continued to keep us off balanced.”
The third quarter began the same way the second quarter ended – with Team USA on the attack.
Kmic’s 13-yard touchdown run just 58 seconds into the third quarter put Team USA back in the end zone. And by the time Harris added 5-yard scoring run to make it 50-7 with 2:57 left in the half, the outcome was well out of doubt.
“This is a great honor, to represent all our countries, and for me to be able to wear United States of America on my chest,” Kmic said. “What a great experience and opportunity. This is ranked very high on my list of accomplishments in my football career.”
Hawkins finished 13-of-21 for 161 yards and the two touchdowns. Harris had 105 yards on 15 carries (7.0 average), part of Team USA’s 257-yard ground game.
—Information provided by USA Football
