[su_dropcap]F[/su_dropcap]rance encountered surprise resistance from a determined Finnish national team to take third place in the European American football Championships. Overwhelming favorites entering the contest, the French team had to lean on the legs of tailback Stephen Yepmo, who had a stellar day, rushing for 209 yards on 25 carries while also scoring a touchdown. Finland’s Veikka Lehtonen also proved to be tough to stop, gaining 131 yards on 19 carries and adding a touchdown while also throwing for another.
Neither team looked impressive early in the game as penalties, turnovers and miscues plagued both squads. Finally Tuomas Leinonen of Finland picked off a Mattison pass and Finland took the ball over at France’s 33 yard line, only to badly miss a field goal three plays later. France finally found a rhythm and drove from their own 33 to score with just under three minutes to go in the quarter. Stephan Yempo led the way after quarterback Perez Mattison hit Louvin for a 40 yard gain.
Two series later, Finland tied the game as Veikka Lehtonen put his team on his shoulders, running for a total of 24 yards on the drive and throwing a 56 yard TD pass to help Finland even the score at 7-7.
The teams traded punts three times, but with just over a minute to go in the first half, Mattison found Guillaume Rioux and the receiver ran almost untouched for a 45 yard touchdown, giving France a 14-7 lead at the half.
Again the Finnish offense struggled having to rely on its punter, K Gronroos to stay out of trouble. With just over a minute left in the third quarter Mattison threw his third touchdown pass of the game to Rioux and France took a seemingly secure 28-7 lead to start the fourth quarter.
But Finland got back on the scoreboard as Vaikka Lehtonen took off for 38 yards and then Finnish quarterback Miro Kadmiry found Ville Kurvinen from 23 yards out to make the score 28-14.
France came right back as tailback Anthony Dable cut just inside the Finnish corner and scampered 56 yards for another French touchdown.
Finland then engineered a five minute drive from their own 25 to France’s seven only to take two needless delay of game penalties and then badly miss the ensuing field goal attempt.
Finally, after forcing a French fumble, Finland scored as Kadmiry hit Saloranta for a 10 yard touchdown closing the gap to 35-21. But with only just under two and a half minutes remaining, Finland had run out of time. France ran out the clock, rushing five times before taking a knee.
Although France took third in the tournament, it looked like the loss to Austria for a championship berth affected them, as at times they looked frustrated and off balance. They had finished second in the 2010 European championships and maybe considered this a step down. After Finland’s opening day embarrassing loss to Germany, Finland was the was the clear underdog going into the game but redeemd themselves and battled to the end.
With the victory the French claim the third and final European berth in the 2015 World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. They will join Germany and Austria as the European qualifiers. Also confirmed are IFAF Asia teams Japan and South Korea, IFAF Oceania winner Australia, host country Sweden, and 2011 defending World Champions the United States. Two teams from IFAF Americas and one team from IFAF Africa have yet to be decided.
Leading rusher on the game was Stephen Yepmo with 209 yards. Top receiver was also from France as Guillaume Rioux caught four passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.