The Junior World Championship Gold Medal Game is set with No. 1-seed Canada versus No. 2-seed United States. Team Canada easily defeated New Zealand in its first game of the tournament winning 55-0 and narrowly escaped Japan with a 38-35 victory in its second game. Team USA has dominated its competition, beating France 78-0 in its opening round game and defeating Mexico 55-0 in its second game.
Despite the great performance by the U.S. in the tournament, Jordan Lynch, safety and team captain, knows it will take the team's best effort to defeat Canada for the gold.
"It's going to take our best effort," Lynch said. "This will be the best team that we play."
One key player Lynch will match up against from Team Canada is Steven Lumbala. Lumbala is a 5-foot-11, 190-pound tailback who played for the St. Francis Browns. Against New Zealand at the JWC, Lumbala rushed for 60 yards on nine attempts and two touchdowns. He also caught one pass for seven yards in that game. Against Japan, Lumbala rushed for 52 yards on nine attempts and rushed for one touchdown. On the receiving end, he had one catch for 10 yards and one touchdown.
Lynch said the passing game has been a key component of Team Canada's stellar play.
"What we have seen today is that they like to spread it out, run a little trips and quads," he said. "They like to throw the ball ... so it should be a great test for us."
Lynch will also match up against wide receiver Taylor Nill. In the New Zealand game Nill had two catches for 64 yards. However, against Japan, Nill had just two catches for nine yards and no scores.
Team USA quarterback Bryce Petty is also looking forward to the final game. Team Canada will be the best competition they've seen all tournament.
"They're a lot more physical that some of the teams we've seen before," Petty said. "Technique wise, it seems as though they're better than the other teams we've played, but I guess that's the way it's supposed to be: the final two. There isn't much too different."
The defensive attack from Team Canada will be lead by Byron Perez-Archambault. Perez-Archambault had two tackles and one assist versus New Zealand in the JWC tournament and two tackles in Team Canada's defeat of Japan.
Team Canada will certainly provide the best matchup the United States has had thanks in part to the coaching by Glen Constantin. Prior to becoming the head coach for the Canadian junior national team in 2006, Constantin was the defensive coordinator for five years. He has led Laval University to Vanier Cup victories in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008 and three perfect 8-0 seasons.
Since June 14, Team USA has been preparing for the chance to play for a gold medal. Now, they have the opportunity to realize that goal.
"It's awesome, you know, most of your teammates are looking up to you because they are the ones who voted for the captains," Lynch said. "Trust that I'm going to make sure that we're ready to play Sunday, and it's going to be a lot of fun."
Petty is also excited about the matchup and the chance to see Team USA's hard work finally pay off.
"It's going to take 110 percent, but that's any game," Petty said. "We can't go into this game any different than we did the first two. The hype is going to be different, but as far as the intensity and the energy, it's going to be great."
And hopefully, that intensity and energy leads to a Team USA gold medal victory.
Check out the game on Fox Sports Atlantic LIVE on Sunday, July 5, at 1 p.m.
