U.S. MEN'S AND WOMEN'S FLAG NATIONAL TEAMS ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS AT THE WORLD GAMES 2022 IN BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
The World Games 2022 Flag Semifinal & Medal Games to be livestreamed on OlympicChannel.com July 13-14
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The 2022 U.S. Men’s and Women’s Flag Football National Teams advanced through the quarterfinal round of The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday. Both U.S. teams will play Austria tomorrow, Wednesday, July 13, in semifinal games at historic Legion Field.
The World Games 2022 (July 7-17) feature the 16 best flag football national teams on the globe, marking the first time that flag is part of an international, multi-sport event. The flag football portion of The World Games runs through Thursday, July 14.
U.S. Flag National Teams are built and managed by USA Football, the sport’s national governing body and a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. All competing national teams are members of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), comprised of 72 nations across five continents. IFAF is a provisional member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The U.S. Women’s Flag National Team defeated Brazil, 32-7, Tuesday and will face Austria (3-1) in semifinal play Wednesday at 8:10 p.m. CT/9:10 p.m. ET. Austria defeated Japan (1-3), 39-32, in its quarterfinal game today. The Austria-U.S. women’s semifinal is a rematch of Sunday’s thrilling 27-21 U.S. victory in Group play.
The U.S. Men’s Flag National Team advanced to semifinal play by withdrawal from The World Games of the German Men’s Team after five positive COVID-19 cases were found within the delegation, including three athlete cases. And like the U.S. Women, the U.S. Men will play Austria (3-1) in semifinal play Wednesday at 5:10 p.m. CT/6:10 p.m. ET. Austria upended Panama (1-3), 18-7, in Tuesday’s quarterfinal action.
All remaining flag football matchups at The World Games will be livestreamed at OlympicChannel.com.
Scroll below for today’s U.S. Women’s game recap and for U.S. Men’s and Women’s Flag National Teams rosters.
The World Games’ flag football schedules, results, and statistics reside at www.twg2022.com/results.
Scoring updates for the U.S. Flag National Teams’ games throughout The World Games are posted on Instagram at @usnft. Media and fans also may follow both U.S. Flag National Teams through July 14 on Twitter at @usnft.com.
The World Games, supported by the IOC, are held every four years and feature of 30 of the fastest-growing sports in the world. More than 3,500 athletes from approximately 100 countries are in Birmingham this week to compete in the 11-day event (July 7-17).
Tuesday, July 12
U.S. Women’s Flag, The World Games 2022
United States 32, Brazil 7
Red jerseys worn by defenders on the U.S. Women’s team Tuesday resembled a brick wall in a convincing 32-7 quarterfinal victory against Brazil (0-4) while SHENEIKA ADGER-COMICE (Sun City Center, Fla.) caught 4 TD passes for the Americans. The win places the United States (4-0) in semifinal action against Austria (3-1) tomorrow for an 8:10 p.m. CT start with the winner advancing to Thursday’s Gold Medal Game.
The other half of the women’s bracket features Mexico (4-0) and Panama (3-1), who play at 6:10 p.m. CT tomorrow.
The U.S. defense allowed Brazil to cross the 25-yard midfield a scant two times in its seven possessions. Brazil’s lone TD came with 13 minutes left in the game, cutting the U.S. lead to 26-7.
U.S. rusher MARIAH GEARHART (Orlando, Fla.) was part of a Red-White-&-Blue defensive force that limited Brazil to 7-of-21 (33.3 pct.) first-half passing with two interceptions – one apiece from defensive backs AYANNA PATE (Riverview, Fla.) and Adger-Comice. Brazil mustered only two first downs on the day.
“We’re actually used to giving up very little points,” said Gearhart. “That was more of the defense we’re used to playing. We don’t even want to give up first downs. That’s our mentality. Honestly, we wanted the goose egg, too. Our expectation is to give up zero points every time.”
The U.S. scored TDs on its first five possessions – four of which were punctuated by Comice TD catches from QB VANITA KROUCH (Carrollton, Texas). Receiver JOANN OVERSTREET (Lewisville, Texas) caught the other U.S. TD on a remarkable 30-yard over-the-head catch on a dead sprint.
“Vanita just said get open in the middle, so that’s where I went to work,” said Comice, who was uncoverable for Brazil. “They shifted to a box (defense) and when they did that, the middle of the box is open, we just broke the box.”
Krouch finished her day with a glittering passing line: 17 of 23 for 190 yards and 5 TDs.
“We can’t be content on what we’ve accomplished so far,” said U.S. Women’s head coach CHRIS LANKFORD (Dallas, Texas) of his team’s semifinal berth.
Asked what the U.S. team’s mindset is going into the semifinals, Comice said, “Win – win, win, win, win, win. That’s the mindset, but we’ve got to have fun first.”
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2022 U.S. Women’s Flag National Team Roster
Jersey #; Player Name; Position; Height; Weight; Age; City of Residence
No. 1; Joann Overstreet; WR/DB; 5’5”; 130; 39; Lewisville, Texas
No. 2; Mariah Gearhart; Rusher/WR; 5’8”; 130; 33; Orlando, Florida
No. 4; Vanita Krouch; QB; 5’5”; 143; 42; Carrollton, Texas
No. 6; Sheneika Adger-Comice; WR/DB; 5’8”; 160; 34; Sun City Center, Florida
No. 8; Nadia Bibbs; WR/DB; 5’7”; 134; 37; Houston, Texas
No. 12; Ashley Whisonant; WR/DB; 5’6”; 150; 25; Woodbridge, Virginia
No. 13; Deliah Autry; WR/DB; 5’5”; 130; 27; Tampa, Florida
No. 14; Mary Kate Bula; DB/Rusher; 5’4”; 125; 28; Charlotte, North Carolina
No. 15; Ayanna Pate ; WR/DB; 5’4”; 150; 29; Riverview, Florida
No. 16; Michelle Roque; WR/QB; 5’4”; 120; 28; Pompano Beach, Florida
No. 27; Crystal Winter; Rusher; 5’3”; 130; 38; Delray Beach, Florida
No. 69; Crystal Daniels; WR/DB; 5’5”; 140; 30; Houston, Texas
Head Coach: Chris Lankford; Dallas, Texas
2022 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team Roster
Jersey #; Player Name; Position; Height; Weight; Age; City of Residence
No. 1; Bruce Mapp; WR/DB; 6’1”; 220; 28; Carrollton, Texas
No. 2; Johnny Rembert; WR/DB; 5’11”; 198; 26; Miami, Florida
No. 3; Jordan Oquendo; DB/WR; 5’10”; 145; 29; Spring Hill, Florida
No. 4; Laval Davis; WR; 5’11”; 185; 29; San Antonio, Texas
No. 5; Dezmin Lewis; WR; 6’4”; 225; 29; Melissa, Texas
No. 7; Darrell Doucette; QB; 5’7”; 140; 32; New Orleans, Louisiana
No. 11; Aamir Brown; WR/DB; 5’9”; 175; 25; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
No. 14; Laderrick “Pablo” Smith; WR/Rusher; 5’10; 155; 25; Pompano Beach, Florida
No. 15; Frankie Solomon; DB/WR; 5’10; 205; 35; Dallas, Texas
No. 21; James Calhoun; DB/WR; 5’11”; 200; 33; Hemet, California
No. 22; David Price; DB/WR; 6’0”; 215; 30; Baldwin, Florida
No. 24; Geoffrey Bryan; Rusher/C; 5’7”; 155; 35; Opa Locka, Florida
Head Coach: Jorge Cascudo; Miami, Florida
Assistant Coach: Patrick Alley; Richardson, Texas
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