U.S. MEN'S AND WOMEN'S FLAG NATIONAL TEAMS EACH ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS OF 2021 IFAF FLAG WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN JERUSALEM
At the 2021 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Flag World Championships in Jerusalem, Israel today, the U.S. Men’s & Women’s Flag National Teams both went 3-0 to up their respective tournament records to 5-0 and advance to the semifinals on Wednesday. The IFAF Flag World Championships conclude tomorrow – Wednesday, Dec. 8 – with medal-round games.
Schedules, scores, live streaming of select games, and more can be found on the 2021 IFAF Flag World Championships’ official website, www.flagworld21.com.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Women’s team (5-0) won its two Group play games by defeating Spain (46-0) and Finland (54-13). In quarterfinal play, the American women rallied from a 18-13 deficit late in the first half to defeat Japan 40-24. The U.S. team will face Austria (2-1-1) in its semifinal matchup tomorrow. If the U.S. women advance past Austria, they’ll play the winner of the Brazil (3-0-1) vs. Mexico (4-0) semifinal. The Women’s Gold Medal Game will be played at 8 a.m. ET (U.S.) and streamed live at www.flagworld21.com.
U.S. Women’s Team receiver SHENEIKA COMICE of Tampa, Fla., powered the American office with four TD receptions, all coming in the first half for a 27-18 halftime lead. U.S. quarterback VANITA KROUCH of Carrollton, Texas, threw six TD passes for the win, connecting with receiver MICHELLE ROQUE of Tallahassee, Fla., for the Americans’ other two TDs. Speaking of the Americans’ upcoming opponent Austria, Comice said, “I know they’re a big team. I’m a big target and they have a taller team, so we’ll just have to play hard.”
Also on Tuesday, the U.S. Men’s team (5-0) won both of its final games of Group play, defeating India (62-0) and Spain (54-28). The U.S. team then won its quarterfinal game against Germany, 64-18. The U.S. men face Panama (5-0) in tomorrow’s semifinal and if victorious, will advance to the Gold Medal Game against the winner of the Mexico (5-0) vs. Italy (5-0) semifinal. The Men’s Gold Medal Game will be played at 9:15 a.m. ET (U.S.) and streamed live at www.flagworld21.com.
In their 64-18 quarterfinal win against Germany, the U.S. Men scored TDs on their first seven possessions, all on TD passes by quarterback ERIC HOLLIDAY of Lantana, Texas. “We trust in each other to make plays and we’ve got to get ready for Panama,” said U.S. receiver/running back/defensive back DARRELL DOUCETTE III of New Orleans about the team’s semifinal opponent. “They have some speed and a quarterback who can really throw the ball.”
An IFAF event record-number of 39 Men’s and Women’s flag national teams (combined) spanning 22 countries are competing for gold medals in Jerusalem. IFAF, established in 1998, consists of 73 member nations on five continents which possess a national federation of sport dedicated solely to American Football. The number of countries within the IFAF family has nearly doubled in the past 15 years.
2021 U.S. Women’s Flag National Team roster:
Name, Position, Hometown
Deliah Autry, R/WR, Tampa, Fla.
Nadia Bibbs, WR/DB, Chicago, Ill.
Kassandra Bills, WR/DB, San Antonio, Texas
Mary Kate Bula, WR/DB, Charlotte, N.C.
Sheneika Comice*, WR/DB, Tampa, Fla.
Mariah Gearhart*, R/WR, Orlando, Fla.
Vanita Krouch*, QB, Carrollton, Texas
Keisa Lankford*, C/R, Dallas, Texas
Joann Overstreet*, WR/DB, Lewisville, Texas
Michelle Roque*, QB/WR, Tallahassee, Fla.
Ashley Whisonant*, WR/DB, Woodbridge, Va.
Crystal Winter, R/DB, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
*2018 U.S. Women’s Flag National Team member
Head Coach: Chris Lankford‡, Dallas, Texas
2021 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team roster:
Name, Position, Hometown
Terrance Bunting, WR, Orlando, Fla.
Darrell Doucette, Athlete, New Orleans, La.
Michael Dunn, WR, Nashville, Tenn.
Terrance Fox‡, WR, Bound Brook, N.J.
Eric Holliday‡, QB, Lantana, Texas
Bruce Mapp, WR, Carrollton, Texas
Greg Meek‡, WR, Garland, Texas
Kevin Mujica, WR, Miami, Fla.
David “BoBo” Price, DB, Callahan, Fla.
Anthony Pomo, C/WR, Midland Park, N.J.
Malik Ransom, DB, Spring Valley, Calif.,
Frankie Solomon‡, DB, Dallas, Texas
‡2018 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team member
Head Coach: Bryan Garcia, Granbury, Texas
About USA Football: USA Football designs and delivers premier educational, developmental and competitive programs to advance and grow the sport. As the sport’s national governing body, member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and organizer of the U.S. National Team for international competition, USA Football partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and athletics to support positive football experiences for youth, high school and other amateur players.
Follow IFAF on @IFAFMedia on Twitter and Instagram