Junior World Football | Fredericton’s Thomas part of Team Canada

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The Canadian Press

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CANTON, Ohio - Maxime Boutin ran for 142 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead Canada to a 55-0 rout of New Zealand on Saturday at the IFAF World Junior Football Championship.

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Canadian in Canton: Jake thomas of Fredericton is competing for Canada at the World Junior Football Championship. Canada won its opener at the eight-team tournament, 55-0 over New Zealand.

The Canadians, who come in as the top-ranked team in the tournament, advance to Wednesday's semifinal where they'll face Japan, a 10-7 winner over Germany later in the day.

Boutin's 14-yard TD run late in the second quarter punctuated Canada's 41-0 halftime lead, and he added a 78-yard score in the fourth quarter as the Canadians used a relentless rushing assault to silence New Zealand.

Fredericton's Jake Thomas, who plays for the Acadia University Axemen is on the Canadian roster, along with Acadia teammate Ed McNally of Riverview. They are the only two Atlantic Canadian players on the squad.

Canada finished with 347 of their 515 total yards on the ground, while the Kiwis managed just 53 total yards and finished with minus-8 yards rushing.

Steven Lumbala added 64 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns for Canada, while Frank Marvel and quarterback Brandon Bridge also had touchdown runs. Bridge threw a touchdown pass, as did Jeremi Doyon-Roch.

Adam Thibault and Julian Bailey caught first-half touchdown passes, while Lirim Hajrullahu converted seven of eight extra-point chances to complete the scoring.

Saturday's other games saw Mexico defeat Sweden 41-0 and the U.S. beat France 78-0.

Canada will play Japan in the semifinals Wednesday at 5 p.m., with the U.S. to play Mexico at 8 p.m. Winners would meet in the championship game next Sunday, July 5, at 2 p.m.

The games are being played at Fawcett Stadium, next door to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's the inaugural year for the international tourney, to be held again in 2012 and then every two years after. Canada is the top seed. The Americans, who have never before played an international event, is the second seed.