The world is becoming a smaller place.
At least in football terms, only 17 points separate the game's traditional powerhouse of the United States and the rest of the world, following a 17-0 Team USA victory against the World Select team at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in the "Team USA vs. The World" game, presented by Riddell.
Assembled as a collective squad of the best under-19 American football players from around the world for the first time, the team representing eight countries and four continents held its own against USA Football's Junior National Team of 45 players who have committed to some of the nation's top college football programs.
"It didn't surprise me that the game was close," said USA head coach Chris Merritt, whose squad won the first USA Football "Team USA vs. The World" game, presented by Riddell.
"I'm very proud of how the team came together in about four days. It would be easy for them to think about where they're going to be playing in college, but throughout the week, it was great to see them become a team."
Team USA capitalized on the psychological advantage of having broken a first half deadlock with a touchdown with only nine seconds remaining and then added a third quarter touchdown and late field goal to edge the contest. The World team was left wondering what might have been.
"Turnovers and the big penalties were our downfall but what hurt the team the most was our truest starter on defense going down on the third play of the game because he has been superb for us all week," explained World team head coach Jan Jenmert.
Canadian quarterback Jeremi Doyon-Roch (Vanier College) was intercepted by Team USA MVP Mike Hull (Canon-McMillan, Pa.) late in the third quarter with the World team trailing 14-0 and facing a crucial third and seven at the USA 12-yard line. There was to be no comeback once Team USA capitalized, driving into range for kicker Ben Hopfinger (St. Thomas Aquinas) to split the uprights from 40 yards out.
The World team lost Australian defensive tackle Jesse Williams (Arizona Western) to injury on the opponent's opening drive, disrupting a line that has impressed during a week of practices, with Williams one of the stars. They then also had to adjust the running game when fullback James Sifakis (Vanier College) also went down.
It was the World team's ground attack that opened brightly with Steven Lumbala (University of Calgary) and Doyon-Roch pounding the ball steadily downfield on the ground, completing three third downs in the process.
Neither team was able to move the ball for the remainder of the first quarter, but to open the second, Team USA sustained a drive that looked likely to put points on the board.Aided by a roughing the kicker penalty that earned a first down after having to punt, Team USA quarterback Mark Myers (St. Ignatius, Ohio), who had been run into when punting, connected with Sam Gagliano (Waxahachie, Texas) for a 16-yard gain. He then found Quinton Dunbar (Booker T Washington, Fla.) and Anthony Creecy (Southern Durham, N.C.), closing in on field goal range.
A Christian Walcott (Concordia University) tackle on Myers for a loss of 7 yards brought out the field goal unit and German defensive end Bjoern Werner (Salisbury School, Conn.), who has been highly recruited by leading US colleges, blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt by Hopfinger.
That should have left the first half scoreless, but Dunbar produced an elusive punt return, at one point forced back to his own 5-yard mark, to take the ball out to within a yard of midfield, a touchdown return denied by the tackle of punter Tyler Crapigna (Ottawa Myers Riders).
Quarterback Tyler Smith (Wilson Area HS, Pa.) went to work immediately, hooking up on a spectacular 50-yard pass downfield that Josh Reese (Miami Central, Fla.) would have taken all the way to pay dirt but for a saving tackle by Dylan Hollohan (St. Francis Xavier) at the 1-yard mark. Reese fumbled and recovered the ball on the play then from a yard out, Ethan Grant (North Broward Prep, Fla.) scored to give Team USA a 7-0 halftime lead with only nine seconds left on the clock.
What proved to be the killer blow came at the start of the second half. Team USA drove steadily toward its second touchdown and used the no-huddle offense effectively. Dontae Williams (Aldine, Texas) gained 11 yards on two carries, Jakhari Gore (Miami Columbus, Fla.) rushed for 21 off three carries and Myers went to the air for a 25-yard connection with Gagliano.
From 5 yards out, Williams burst over the right tackle to earn a two-touchdown lead after Hopfinger added the extra point.
The World team enjoyed success moving the chains on the ground, with team MVP Hampus Hellermark (Sweden) being the most effective rusher finishing with 64 yards off 12 carries. But the passing game proved less effective, especially on third down.
Team USA closed out the third quarter and the contest with a confident 40-yard field goal from Hopfinger.
The World team produced a steady 15-play, 50-yard drive that threatened to break the shutout late on, but Hellermark lost yards on a swing pass on fourth and goal as Team USA held firm.
Myers led Team USA with 7 of 10 pass attempts completed for 79 yards, while Smith contributed 5 of 10 for 105 yards. Keiwone Malone (Mitchell, Tenn.) had four receptions for 41 yards, Gagliano had three for 46 and Reese secured two for 72. On the ground, Gore rushed 11 times for 53 yards, Williams 10 times for 59 yards and a touchdown and Grant seven times for 11 yards.
Hull and Travis Williams (Lake Taylor, Va.) led the Americans with eight tackles each, with Hull claiming the game's only interception. Steele Divitto (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.) had eight tackles and a sack, while Josh Huff (Nimitz, Texas) recorded two sacks and four tackles.
Hellermark was the World team's most effective offensive weapon with 12 carries for 64 yards, while Lumbala rushed for 28 yards on seven carries and Doyon-Roch for 32 from nine runs. The Vanier Prep quarterback completed 5 of 13 pass attempts for 32 yards, with two of those going to college teammate Julian Bailey for a total of 14 yards.
Defensively, Walcott led the World team with six tackles and a sack and there were also sacks for Jerod McCrory (Western University), Beck Coulter (Trinity, Texas), Scott Janz (Western) and Tyler Sawyer (University of Ottawa).
