2015 IFAF World Championship

Last updated
2015 IFAF World Championship
Tournament details
Host nationFlag of the United States.svg  United States
DatesJuly 9 – July 18
No. of nations7
Champions  Gold medal blank.svg Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Runner-up  Silver medal blank.svg Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Third-place  Bronze medal blank.svg Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Tournament statistics
Attendance5,750
MVP of the tournamentFlag of the United States.svg Trent Steelman
2011
2025

The 2015 IFAF World Championship was the fifth instance of the IFAF World Championship, an international American football tournament. The United States hosted the tournament. [1] Seven teams had confirmed their participation for the tournament in Canton, Ohio. [2]

Contents

The tournament was to be hosted by Stockholm, Sweden, with all games to be take place at the Tele2 Arena. However, on 19 December 2014, the local organizing committee announced that it had to cancel after failing to set up a sponsorship structure. USA Football then announced that the tournament would be held at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

The United States won their third consecutive championship in their third appearance, defeating Japan 59–12 in the final. Sports Radio America internationally broadcast the gold medal game.

Background

The 2015 World Championships in Sweden were originally scheduled to be the first ever to consist of a field of 12 national teams in World Championships. The teams were to be divided into four groups for the preliminary round. [3] However, on 19 December 2014, the local organizing committee announced that it had to cancel after failing to set up a sponsorship structure. USA Football then announced that the tournament would be held at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. Several days later both the German and Austrian teams announced they would not be able to attend, raising the challenge of the increased financial costs of traveling to the U.S. and also questioning the choice of Canton for hosting it, due to the lack of facilities to accommodate a large number of teams. [4] A new schedule containing only 8 teams was then announced. [5]

The schedule in Canton originally had five rounds, with teams divided into two brackets of four teams each. The teams were seeded based on their IFAF rankings. [6] The preliminary rounds consisted of each team playing three games: one against every other team in their bracket. The top three finishers in the higher bracket (USA, Canada, Japan, and Mexico) and the lone top finisher in the lower bracket would advance to the semifinals. [6]

In late April, Team Canada, the defending silver medalists, announced their withdrawal from the tournament due to difficulties with sponsorship, budgeting and scheduling. [7]

The revised final schedule included 7 teams playing 4 rounds with three games each day on July 9, 12, 15, 18. #3 seed Japan received a bye in Round 1, while #4 seed Mexico drew a bye in Round 2 after losing in the first round against Team USA. [8]

Qualifying

Teams with an asterisk did not attend.

ConfederationQualifying eventDateVenueVacanciesQualified
Europe Host nation12 October 20114Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden*
2014 European Championships 3 June 2014Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Flag of Germany.svg  Germany*
4 June 2014Flag of Austria.svg  Austria*
7 June 2014Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
Americas 2011 IFAF World Championship 16 July 2011Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 4Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada*
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
American Qualifier Game (Panama vs Brazil)31 January 2015Flag of Panama.svg  Panama Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Asia Asian Qualifier Game (Korea vs Kuwait)12 April 2014Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 2Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Asian Qualifier Game (Japan vs Philippines)26 April 2014Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Oceania Oceanian Qualifier3 December 20131Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Africa African Qualifier Game (Egypt vs Morocco)13 December 2014Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 1Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco*
Total 12

Notes

    This was the fifth IFAF World Championship tournament for Japanese defensive lineman Yasuo Wakisaka, 46. He is the only player to appear in all world championship tournaments since its inception in 1999. [9]

    Venue

    All games of the tournament were played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

    All Games
    Canton, OH
    Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium
    Capacity: 22,375
    Fawcett Stadium.jpg

    Bracket

    Group A

    In the revised schedule, best 3 teams of Group A would advance to 1st-4th playoffs, while the bottom team would be relegated to 5th-8th playoffs. Since Canada (originally seed #2) withdrew from the tournament after the revised schedule was announced, their spot was left vacated, giving byes to Japan for Round 1, the loser between United States and Mexico for Round 2, and the Group B 4th place for 5th-8th playoffs semifinal. [10]

    First round Second round
          
    1 Flag of the United States.svg  United States 30
    3 Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 6
    1 Flag of the United States.svg  United States 43
    2 Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 18
    2 Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
    Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada WD Third place
    3 Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 20
    Flag of France.svg  France 7

    Group B

    1st place of Group B would be promoted to 1st-4th playoffs, while the rest would advance to 5th-8th playoffs.

    First round Second round
          
    4 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 31
    7 Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 6
    4 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 53
    5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3
    5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 47
    6 Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 6 Consolation quarter-final
    7 Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 28
    6 Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 0

    Consolation Round

    Consolation Semi-Finals 5th Place Match
          
    A4 bye
    B4 Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
    Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 14
    Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 42
    B2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 16
    B3 Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 8 7th Place Match
    Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
    bye

    Championship Round

    Semi-Finals Final
          
    A1 Flag of the United States.svg  United States 82
    B1 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 0
    Flag of the United States.svg  United States 59
    Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 12
    A2 Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 35
    A3 Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 7 3rd Place Match
    Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 7
    Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 20

    Matches

    Round 1

    Game 1

    Period1234Total
    Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 60006
    Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 02416747

    at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio, United States

    • Date: July 9, 2015
    • Game time: 12:00
    • Game weather: Temp: 75 Wind: 21mph SW Weather: overcast/rain
    • Game attendance: 250
    • Referee: Officials: Ref: Hiroyasu (JAP) Ump: Sampaio (BRA) Line: Harangi (HUN) LJ: Rosa (BRA) BJ: Barinaga (USA) FJ: Rasmussen *DEN) SJ: Cardenas (CHI) CJ: Matos (MEX)

    South Korea took an early lead in the first quarter when Bong Do Yeo returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown. [11] Australia's Jared Stegman was picked off again later in the quarter by Jun Keun Hwang, but South Korea was unable to capitalize off the turnover. [11] Australia responded with 47 unanswered points, including a safety in the third quarter, to win 47–6. [11] Stegman threw for 133 yards and four touchdowns and Conor Foley ran for 132 yards and a touchdown. [11] Australia's offense finished with 385 total yards, including 247 yards rushing. [11] Meanwhile, their defense held South Korea to just 69 total yards, including minus-21 yards rushing. [11] Australia snapped a four-game losing streak in the IFAF World Championship tournament dating back to 1999. [11] 39-year-old right tackle Jason Aslimoski was the only remaining player from the 1999 team. [11]

    Game 2

    Period1234Total
    Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 00066
    Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 2130731

    at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio, United States

    • Date: July 9, 2015
    • Game time: 15:30
    • Game weather: rain
    • Game attendance: 200
    • Referee: Officials: Ref: Briggs (GB) Ump: Parsons (GB) Line: Lamminsalo (FIN) LJ: Udvardi (HUN) BJ: Walentynowicz (POL) FJ: Mickkelsen (DEN) SJ: Batzler (SWE) CJ: Veronica (MEX)

    France scored 13 seconds into the game, with a tournament-record 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Anthony Dablé. Quarterback Paul Durand connected with Guillaume Rioux for two touchdowns to put France up 21–0 by the end of the first quarter. Durand was 11-of-19 passing for 136 yards with no interceptions, while Rioux hauled in four passes for 58 yards. Brazil scored their first ever IFAF tournament points when Rhudson Fonsecsa scored on a run from 2 yards out. Brazil tried for two, but was unsuccessful. France finished off the scoring with a 53-yard touchdown run by Stephan Yepmo with under a minute left. He finished with 109 yards on 13 carries.

    Game 3

    Period1234Total
    Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 03036
    Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3713730

    at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio, United States

    • Date: July 9, 2015
    • Game time: 19:00
    • Game weather: cloudy
    • Game attendance: 350
    • Referee: Officials: Ref: Takakura (JAP) Ump: Leoniak (POL) Line: Dove (AUS) LJ: Ledo (SWE) BJ: Mercer (AUS) FJ: Canto (FRA) SJ: Shin (SKR) CJ: Sinclair (AUS)

    The U.S. dominated defensively from the beginning, holding Mexico to minus-6 yards on the ground and 93 through the air. They were led in part by two former Mount Union players: quarterback Kevin Burke and Luc Meacham. The two connected on a 12-yard touchdown pass to cap a 17-play drive and give the U.S. a 10–0 lead in the second quarter. Mexico answered with a field goal before halftime. In the third quarter, Team USA scored on two of its first three possessions to take command of the game. Former Texas Tech running back Sadale Foster scored on a five-yard run and Aaron Wimberly (Iowa State) added a one-yard touchdown run. Burke was the game MVP after completing 18-of-25 passes for a touchdown and two interceptions before backup Dylan Favre (nephew of Brett Favre) saw some playing time. Meacham grabbed four passes for 37 yards and the touchdown. Mexico finished with 87 yards of total offense; their quarterback Isaias Vega completed 11-of-19 passes for 46 yards.

    Round 2

    Game 4

    Period1234Total
    Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 00000
    Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 01213328

    at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio, United States

    • Date: July 12, 2015
    • Game time: 12:00
    • Game weather: rain
    • Game attendance: 100
    • Referee: Rana Hiroyasu

    In just their second game in tournament history, Brazil defeated South Korea 28–0 for their first victory. [12] Brazil dominated from whistle to whistle. Bruno Santucci led all rushers with 108 yards on 8 carries while Romulo Ramus ran for 93 yards on 10 carries. [13] Quarterback Rodrigo Dantas completed 8 of 18 for 84 yards and two touchdowns while Rhudson Fonseca passed for 45 yards and a touchdown. [13] Rodrigo Pons had 5 catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns while Heron Azevedo made three catches for 38 yards and one touchdown. [13] The play that swung things around came after Brazil's only turnover. Trailing 18–0 midway through the third quarter, South Korea had the ball on Brazil's 38. Marcos da Rocha intercepted a pass from Hoon Kim, allowing Pons to score the second of his two touchdowns on the next play. [13] South Korea advanced to the fifth place match and Brazil advanced to a match against Australia for the right to face South Korea in the fifth place match.

    Game 5

    Period1234Total
    Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 03003
    Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 102302053

    at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio, United States

    • Date: July 12, 2015
    • Game time: 15:30
    • Game weather: rain
    • Game attendance: 100
    • Referee: Einar Bolstad
    • [14]

    France beat Australia 53–3 for its second win in a row. Anthoney Dablé returned the opening kickoff 66 yards, allowing quarterback Paul Durand to throw a 4 yard touchdown pass to Kevin Mwamba a few plays later. [15] Yepmo had a big game, scoring twice in the second quarter, including a 42-yard run that put France up 17–0. Yepmo finished with 13 carries for 111 yards. After a field goal by Australia, Dablé returned a kickoff for a touchdown for the second game in a row, a 92 yards run that increased the France lead to 24–3. [15] Khandar's 88 yard run in the fourth quarter set an IFAF tournament record for longest touchdown run in a game. Perez Mattison finished out the scoring with a 6-yard pass to Rémi Bertellin.

    Game 6

    Period1234Total
    Flag of the United States.svg  United States 83141843
    Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 037818

    at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio, United States

    • Date: July 12, 2015
    • Game time: 19:00
    • Game weather: cloudy
    • Game attendance: 500
    • Referee: Jim Briggs

    In a rematch of the 2007 World Championship final, Team USA quarterbacks Kevin Burke and Favre each threw an interception in the first half. Additionally, Japan blocked a 29-yard field goal attempt by Ed Ruhnke when Keizaburo Isagawa snuck through the line. After a low-scoring first half, the U.S. broke things open in the second half. Their running back, Sadale Foster, scored 2 touchdowns on the day, one of which was for 60 yards, a new Team USA record. Foster was awarded game MVP after rushing for 84 yards on 12 carries. The United States posted 580 yards of total offense. Favre was 15-of-19 for 193 yards, while Burke was 8-of-16 for 160 yards with a touchdown. Meanwhilie, Japan team MVP Shohei Kato completed 28 of 49 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown.

    Round 3

    Game 7

    Period1234Total
    Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1600016
    Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 00088

    at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio, United States

    • Date: July 15, 2015
    • Game time: 12:00
    • Game weather: overcast
    • Game attendance: 150
    • Referee: J.Briggs • Umpire: D.Parsons • Linesman: J.P Cantos • Line judge: G.Udvardi • Back judge: Walentynowicz • Field judge: D.Cardenas • Side judge: I.Kim • Alternate: M.Matos •

    Australia got on top early, ultimately gaining a lead it never gave up as a 58-yard touchdown pass from Jared Stegman (11-of-16, 140 yards, touchdown) to Matt Riles opened the scoring. Fullback Nate Lansdel went in from 4 yards out two drives later and put Brazil down 16 after the first quarter. Australia had outgained Brazil in total offense 134–8. Despite the start, Brazil closed within a score when Felipe Leiria caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Rodrigo Dantas (11-of-21, 126 yards) and Breno Tkashashi converted the two-point conversion with 3:06 remaining. Brazil was able to get the ball back after a three-and-out by Australia, but an interception by Damien Donaldson with 58 seconds doomed any hopes of a Brazil comeback. Notably, Ramos caught 7 passes for 101 yards for Brazil.

    Game 8

    Period1234Total
    Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 00707
    Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 14701435

    at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio, United States

    • Date: July 15, 2015
    • Game time: 15:30
    • Game weather: partly cloudy
    • Game attendance: 250
    • Referee: E.Bolstad • Umpire: D.Sinclair • Linesman: M.Mikkelson • Line judge: V.Lamminsalo • Back judge: A.Barinaga • Field judge: F.Rassmussen • Side judge: J.Batzler • Alternate: D.Leoniak •

    Japan had Mexico reeling immediately as Tetsuo Takata connected with Takashi Kurihara for 70 yards just 79 seconds into the game. The two hooked up again later in the quarter on a 10-yard score. Naoki Maeda found the end zone on a 17-yard pass from Takata, and Japan walked into halftime up three scores. The offensive fireworks continued, and by the time it was over, Japan put up some impressive numbers. Takata was 17-of-24 for 223 yards with three touchdowns, while Kurihara registered four catches for 87 yards and the two scores. The running game averaged 6.4 yards per touch, while Taku Lee and Ryo Takagi each registered touchdowns. On the flip side, Japan's defense was on point as defensive linemen Ryota Takahashi (5 tackles, sack) and Tori Hirasawa (4½, sack, two tackles for loss) disrupted the offensive flow for Mexico. The Japanese defense forced Roberto Vega (11-of-21, 136 yards, touchdown) into four interceptions. Japan has been to the IFAF World Championship finals three times prior, twice winning the gold medal. With its convincing win over Mexico, Japan returned to the gold-medal game to take on Team USA, which it has never beat.

    Game 9

    Period1234Total
    Flag of the United States.svg  United States 262872182
    Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 00000

    at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio, United States

    • Date: July 15, 2015
    • Game time: 19:00
    • Game weather: sunny/clear
    • Game attendance: 500
    • Referee: N.Hiroyasu • Umpire: I.Veronica • Linesman: Z.Harangi • Line judge: F.Rosa • Back judge: P.Mercer • Field judge: A.Takakura • Side judge: S.Dove • Alternate: K.Leido •

    Playing in its own country for the first time in men's IFAF World Championship history, and in the city of the birthplace of professional football, the Americans wanted to show they can still reign over the game they created. That point was driven home when the United States beat France, 82–0, setting a new Team USA record for points scored in an IFAF game. None of the U.S. games have been close in Canton, as the U.S. has beaten Japan, Mexico and France by a combined 155–24 (30–6 against Mexico and 43–18 over Japan). Team USA MVP and U.S. running back Aaron Wimberly, broke a U.S. record for most rushing yards in a game, with 117 yards rushing and a touchdown. Unlike its first two games, the United States (3–0) came out strong against the French and put things away relatively early. Wimberly opened the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown run. B.J. Beatty then recovered a blocked punt by Robert Virgil, and it was 12–0 early. By the time the quarter was over, Trent Steelman added a 49-yard touchdown catch from Kevin Burke, and Matt Oh not only sacked Perez Mattison but recovered the fumble for a score to make it a 26-point lead. The United States was up 54–0 at halftime. The U.S. dominated on offense, with 334 yards rushing and 454 total yards. The defense was just as impressive, causing 4 turnovers and holding France's offense to minus-26 yards rushing, and 75 yards of total offense.

    5th Place Game

    Period1234Total
    Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 070714
    Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 14671542

    at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio, United States

    • Date: July 18, 2015
    • Game time: 12:00
    • Game weather: Sunny
    • Game attendance: 100
    • Referee: N.Hiroyasu • Umpire: D.Leoniak • Center judge: I.Veronica • Linesman: Z.Harangi • Line judge: F.Rosa • Back judge: K.Walentynowicz • Field judge: D.Cardenas • Side judge: J.Batzler • Alternate: M.Sampaio

    Australia beat South Korea, 42–14, to clinch fifth place at the IFAF World Championship. The Australians went up 7–0 in the first quarter. Another Aussie drive put the team in scoring range late in the first quarter. On 3rd down and goal from the 6 yard line, Conor Foley seemed to be tackled by two defenders at the 10 yard line. Foley broke through those two tackles, and spun away from yet another defender to give Australia a 14-point lead. Australia scored yet again when Damien Donaldson intercepted a pass on the Aussie 35 yard line and returned it five yards before lateraling to Calvin Young, who then raced 60 more yards to give the squad a 20–0 lead late in the second quarter. Australian quarterback Jared Stegman had another good game, going 18-of-27 for 224 yards and a touchdown, and he tied a tournament record by throwing six touchdown passes. Daniel Strickland led the receivers, with 88 yards on five catches (including a touchdown), and Tyson Garnham hauled in nine passes for 70 yards. Nate Lansdel added a score and 39 yards rushing, and the Australian offense recorded three touchdowns on the ground. South Korea finished winless in the tournament, but the team did make history when San Hong Kim scored the country's first offensive touchdown in IFAFWC history and backed it up when Bo Sung Park ran one in as well. Australia got the win, but South Korea had better rushing and receiving performers. Sung Park ran for 69 yards on 16 carries while Hong Kim caught 4 passes for 140 yards.

    Bronze Medal Game

    Period1234Total
    Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 9001120
    Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 07007

    at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio, United States

    • Date: July 18, 2015
    • Game time: 15:30
    • Game weather: Partly Cloudy
    • Game attendance: 250

    In the bronze medal game, Mexico defeated France 20–7. [16] It was their first win of the tournament. France had lost their starting quarterback, Paul Durand, to an injury in the previous game against the U.S. He made one pass attempt, but pain sidelined him after that play. Without Durand, France had to rely on the oldest quarterback in the tournament, 41-year-old Perez Mattison. Mexico's defense forced three interceptions (by Cesar Martinez, Jaime Heras and Vladislave Ávila), and the Mexican offense had their best game of the tournament. Alexis Magallanes scored from 55 yards out on the second play of the game to give Mexico the early lead. [16] José Carlos Maltos made a 40-yard field goal, and Mexico went up 9–0. [16] However, a 12-yard touchdown by Stephan Yepmo (17 carries, 78 yards) capped off a seven-play, 68-yard drive that put France down by only two at halftime. [16] France drove inside Mexico territory to start the second half, but a Mattison fumble gave it back to Mexico. [16] Maltos made a 53-yard field goal to give Mexico a 12–7 lead. [16] Mexico running back and team MVP Allan Rosado rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown. Despite the loss, France matched its highest finish in World Championship history. Mattison finished the day 17 of 31 for 160 yards.

    Gold Medal Game

    Period1234Total
    Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 066012
    Flag of the United States.svg  United States 162271459

    at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio, United States

    • Date: July 18, 2015
    • Game time: 19:00
    • Game weather: clear
    • Game attendance: 3,000
    • Referee: E.Bolstad • Umpire: D.Parsons • Center judge: M.Matos • Linesman: M.Mikkelsen • Line judge: G.Udvardi • Back judge: P.Mercer • Field judge: F.Rasmussen • Side judge: J.P. Canto • Alternate: I.Veronica

    Japan and the United States had each won two World Championships. Team USA won its third straight IFAF World Championship after a crushing 59–12 win over Japan. Each member won a gold medal for the first time. It came in just about every facet as defense was responsible for three touchdowns – a 75-yard pick six by David Guthrie, a 36-yard fumble recovery by Kyle Olugbode, and another fumble recovery by Alex Gross in the end zone. It came with touchdowns from eight players, and it came with 413 yards on 62 plays for an average of 6.7 yards. Tournament MVP wide receiver Trent Steelman led all rushers with 56 yards and a score while Dylan Favre, Aaron Wimberly, and Kevin Burke added rushing scores. Tight end Ernst Brun registered the only receiving touchdown. The defense limited the Japanese rushing game to minus-7 yards. The one minor bright spot for Japan was in the passing game, where Kato (12-22-141 yards) performed very well. Dylan Favre for the US however had a near perfect game (12-12-124).

    The 2015 Team USA was the most dominant in terms of points (214) and kept the Americans undefeated in IFAF play through 11 games. The 11 games won matches Japan's for most wins by a country, though Japan has lost four times – three of them to the United States. Steelman logged 18 catches for 258 yards and two scores, rushed for 66 yards and a score, and recovered a fumble for a touchdown over four games. He led his team in receiving in three games, and in rushing in the fourth. Several Americans made the All-Tournament team: Steelman, Burke, Wimberly, Brun, and James Atoe on offense, and Jack Sherlock, Steve Kurfehs, Gross, Guthrie, and Robert Virgil on defense. The 3,000 fans at the game was not only the largest crowd in the tournament, but also the first game in the tournament to have more than 1,000 in attendance, yet a far cry from the previous high of 20,000 set in Austria in 2011.

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    The 2009 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 14th in the National Football League (NFL). The franchise entered the season off an 11–5 record in their previous season, a playoff berth, but a loss in the American Football Conference (AFC) Championship game against the eventual Super Bowl XLIII champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens recorded nine victories to seven losses, although they were unable to win the AFC North division title. However, due to various playoff clinching scenarios in the AFC, the Ravens were able to clinch a wild card berth against the Oakland Raiders in Week 17. As the sixth seed in the AFC for the second straight year, they defeated the third seeded New England Patriots in Foxboro in the AFC Wild Card playoffs, handing Tom Brady's first ever playoff loss at home and New England's first home playoff loss since 1978. They, however, lost in the AFC Divisional playoffs against the top seeded and eventual AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts; with this loss, the 2009 season came to an end for the Ravens. For head coach John Harbaugh, this was his second year with the franchise, compiling an overall record of 20–12 in the regular season.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Cincinnati Bengals season</span> NFL team season

    The 2009 Cincinnati Bengals season was the 40th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL) and their 42nd overall. They finished the season at 10–6, and sweeping the entire AFC North division, they improved on their 2008 record of 4–11–1, winning the AFC North Division and making the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Their season ended with a 24–14 loss against the New York Jets in the AFC Wild Card Playoff Round.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team</span> American college football season

    The 2009 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University as a member of the Big 12 Conference during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by tenth-year head coach Mike Leach during the regular season and, following Leach’s dismissal, interim head coach Ruffin McNeill for the bowl game. The Red Raiders compiled an overall record of 9–4 with a mrk of 5–3 in conference play, tying for third place in the Big 12's South Division. Texas Tech was invited to the Alamo Bowl, where they defeated Michigan State, 41–31. The Red Raiders played home games at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Cincinnati Bengals season</span> NFL team season

    The 2010 Cincinnati Bengals season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League (NFL), and their 43rd overall. The Bengals looked to improve on their 10–6 record from 2009, during which they swept the AFC North for the first time in team history and made the playoffs as division champions. At the conclusion of the season, however, the Bengals finished 4–12 and were unable to qualify for the playoffs.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Bowling Green Falcons football team</span> American college football season

    The 2015 Bowling Green Falcons football team represented Bowling Green State University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Falcons played their home games at Doyt Perry Stadium. They were led by second-year head coach Dino Babers and were members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 10–4, 7–1 in MAC play to be champions of the East Division. They represented the East Division in the MAC Championship where they defeated Northern Illinois to become MAC champions. They were invited to the GoDaddy Bowl where they lost to Georgia Southern.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Clemson Tigers football team</span> American college football season

    The 2016 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney in his eighth full year and ninth overall since taking over midway through 2008 season. They played their home games at Memorial Stadium, also known as "Death Valley", and competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers entered the 2016 season as the defending national runners-up after a 14–1 season that ended with a loss to Alabama in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship.

    The 2017 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 123rd season of Sooner football. The team was led by Lincoln Riley, who was in his first year as head coach, after the retirement of Bob Stoops in June 2017. They played their home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. They are a charter member of the Big 12 Conference.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Baltimore Ravens season</span> 23rd season in franchise history

    The 2018 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 23rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 11th under head coach John Harbaugh, and their 17th and final season under general manager Ozzie Newsome.

    The 2022 IFAF Women's World Championship was the fourth IFAF Women's World Championship, an American football competition for women. It was held between July 30 and August 7, 2022, after originally having been planned for 2021. The tournament was hosted at Myyrmäen jalkapallostadion in Vantaa, Finland. The defending champion is the United States.

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