The United States showed its dominance in the nascent arena of international football last week, winning the IFAF World Championship with a comfortable rout over Japan in the gold medal game.
The final score from Canton, Ohio's Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, which hosted the 7-team tournament, was 59-12. Playing as a receiver, former Army QB Trent Steelman led the American attack, catching four passes for 49 yards, adding a rushing touchdown, and earning tournament MVP honors. Dylan Favre (Tennessee-Martin/Kiln, Miss.), nephew of former Packers star Brett Favre, was 12-12 with 124 yards passing, splitting quarterback reps with Kevin Burke (Mount Union/Westlake, Ohio). Favre and Burke also had rushing touchdowns.
"We're world champs," Steelman said afterwards, per USA Football. "That's what America does. We play football. We came in with the mentality that we're going to teach the rest of the world that this is our game, and we did that for four games straight games."
Steelman was joined by a solid -- if not elite -- crop of collegiate talent. Former Iowa State TE Ernst Brun caught the game's only receiving touchdown, and David Guthrie, who played safety at New Mexico, ran back an interception for a 75-yard score. Head coach Dan Hawkins, previously a head coach of the Montreal Alouettes and the Colorado Buffalos, saw his offense fly high all evening to the tune of 413 yards.
The gold medal win finished off an easy run through the bracket for the Americans, who won each game by at least three scores and defeated France 82-0.
The Japanese were runners up for the second time after placing third in the last World Championship. They have medaled in all five World Championships they've entered.
