Team Mexico captures 3rd straight World University Championship title

Team Mexico dominated the Japanese national team Sunday finally defeating them 39-3 in the final game of the World University Championships in Harbin, China to win their third consecutive WUC title.

Mexico won the inaugural championship held in Uppsala, Sweden in 2014 and followed that up with a finals win over Team USA in the 2016 edition held in Monterrey, Mexico. Mexico had defeated Team USA 20-17 earlier in the 2018 tournament.

Team Japan took a 3-0 lead but the Mexicans scored a second quarter touchdown on a pass from Lara to Gutierrez to take a 7-0 lead. Aguilar kicked a 32 yard field goal for Mexico with just over a minute left in the half to give Mexico a 10-3 halftime lead.

Then Mexico kicked into a higher gear.

Running back Daniel Felnando scored on Mexico’s first possession of the second half, increasing the lead to 17-3. Then Hernandez scored still in the third quarter making it 24-3 for Mexico. Eduardo opened the fourth quarter throwing a 52 yard touchdown pass to Olvera extending the lead to 31-3.

Finally, with Japan in desperate straits, Majima picked off a pass at the Japanese 30 yard line and returned it for a touchdown. Mexico added a two-point conversion making the final score 39-3.

The United States finished second in the tournament after beating Korea 69-0. This is the second time Team USA has been shut out of the gold in the World University Championships. The lost to Mexico in 2016 in Monterrey, Mexico. They did not compete in the first tournament in 2014.