The Regina/Moose Jaw team representing Canada at the second annual NFL Flag Championships in Canton, Ohio, were one half away from competing in the final in the boys 14 and under international division.
After a 28-0 victory over Germany in a quarterfinal game Saturday morning, the Canadian team could not get things going in the second half as they were defeated 21-14 by Mexico in a game, leading 14-7 at the half.
In the win over Germany, Hudson Belsher threw touchdown passes to Dylan Ward, Xavier Gatin, Brinley Deis and Parker Thomsen. Thomsen added two one-point converts, with Ward and Gatin having the others.
In the quarterfinal, Canada got on the board with Ward catching a TD pass from Belsher on their first possession. It looked like the team had successfully executed a goal-line stand, as a play Mexico needed to score a touchdown was initially ruled to be short, only to be called a touchdown after a conference by the referees. Undaunted, the Canadians went down the field and scored on a touchdown pass from Belsher to Thomsen, but that was it as the team could not get anything going in the second half while Mexico scored twice to take the victory.
Mexico went on to win the international championship as they beat Australia in the final 19-12.
The team will return home Monday night after a great week in Canton, Ohio.
