Canada Surprises USA to Win Under-19 World Championship

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

How far has the world come when it comes to the game of America football?

Saturday night the answer in Austin, Texas was - pretty darn far.

Team Canada beat Team USA 23-17 to win the gold medal in the IFAF Under-19 World Championship.  The win by our neighbors to the north came three years after Team USA won the inaugural world title in 2009 with a 41-3 over Canada.

Team Canada never trailed in the championship game.

Click here to read a game story from the Statesman.com.

Japan won the bronze medal game with a 7-0 win over Austria.

Team USA Advances to Semifinals

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The question in Austin over the next week in Austin is - has the world made any headway on the United States when it comes to the American game of football?

While the answer remains to be seen, American Samoa, the eighth seed in the 2012 IFAF Under-19 World Champion, gave Team USA a go on Saturday in a 27-6 loss to the Red, White and Blue.

American Samoa never backed-down, even after Jesus Wilson (Christopher Columbus HS, Florida) returned the game's opening kickoff 75-yards for a touchdown.  USA built the lead to 20-0 on a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Brayden Scott (Tahlequa-Sequoyah HS, Oklahoma) and a 43-yard touchdown pass from Scott to DeMarcus Ayers (Lancaster HS, Texas).

"It felt really good to be out there," said Scott. "It's kind of funny playing a game in the summer but representing my country is something I'd if it was 100,000 degrees. I love representing my country and wearing USA across my chest. Give the credit to our offensive line and our defense. They did a really good job today."

American Samoa cut the halftime lead to 20-6, but wasn't able to get any closer.

"They were quick, they played awful hard, they had a great scheme, they played up-tempo," said USA head coach Steve Specht (St. Xavier HS, Ohio) of his team's opponent. "That's a good football team. I told Pooch (Taase, American Samoa coach) afterwards, 'you ought to be proud of your kids. They played their hearts out."

"We had way too many stupid penalties but it was the first time we've played together so we've got things to clean up but we'll get better," said Specht.  "I was proud of our kids' effort. They played hard. We've just got to get better."

Ayers was Team USA's MVP with seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.

Team USA will now face Austria in the semifinals on Tuesday.  Austria beat Panama 40-0 in its quarterfinal match-up.

In the other first round games, Canada beat Sweden 43-0 and Japan beat France 27-6.

USA Football Announces U-19 National Team

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Twenty different states are represented on the USA Football Under-19 national team that will play in the 2012 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Championship.

Earlier this week, USA Football announced its 45-man roster that will be led by head coach Steve Specht for the eight-team tournament that will be played in Austin, Texas.  The United States won the inaugural world championship in 2009.

The United States will be trying to defend its gold medal against the likes of American Samoa, Austria, Canada, France, Japan, Panama and Sweden.

Here's the U-19 USA Roster:

#1 - Darrius Sims, 5-10, 170, DB,  Southaven, Miss., Whitehaven HS
#2 - Jesus Wilson,  5-10, 170, WR,  Homestead, Fla.,  Christopher Columbus HS
#3 - Cameron Walker, 5-10,  180,  DB,  Los Angeles, Calif.,  Loyola HS
#4 - Tyler Willis,  5-11, 190, DB Indianapolis, Ind.,  Cathedral HS
#5 - Rashad Kinlaw,  6-2,  180,  WR,  Galloway, N.J., Absegami HS
#6 - Dajuan Drennon,  6-3,  230,  DE,  Clementon, N.J.,  Timber Creek HS
#7 - Rodney Adams,  6-1,  170,  WR,  St. Petersburg, Fla.,  Lakewood HS
#8 - Desmond Wyatt,  5-11,  170,  WR,  Austin, Texas, Westwood HS
#9 - Dashon Hunt,  5-10,  175,  DB,  Simi Valley, Calif.,  Westlake HS
#10 - Tarean Folston,  5-9,  185,  RB,  Rockledge, Fla.,  Cocoa HS
#11 - Brayden Scott,  6-3,  200,  QB,  Tulsa, Okla.,  Tahlequah-Sequoyah HS
#13 - Reggie Chevis,  6-2, 238,  LB,  Houston, Texas,  Sharpstown HS
#15 - Trent Hosick 6-2,  223,  QB,  Kansas City, Mo.,  Staley HS
#16 - Demarcus Ayers,  5-10,  165,  WR,  Lancaster, Texas,  Lancaster HS
#17 - Malique Belfort 6-4,  175,  WR,  Staten Island, N.Y.,  Tottenville HS
#18 - Isaac McDonald,  6-5,  210,  LB,  Hialeah, Fla.,  Champagnat Catholic HS
#19 - Samuel Douglas,  6-2,  180,  LB,  Arlington, Texas,  Arlington HS
#20 - Lorenzo Woodley,  6-0,  210,  RB,  Miami, Fla.,  Christopher Columbus HS
#21 - Kight Dallas,  6-2,  220,  DE-LB,  Lithonia, Ga.,  Arabia Mountain HS
#22 - Chase Abbington,  6-4,  210,  LB, St. Peters, Mo., Fort Zumwalt South HS
#23 - Darius Mosley,  5-11,  175, DB, O’Fallon, Ill., O’Fallon HS
#24 - Conor Hundley,  5-9,  185, RB,  Cincinnati, Ohio,  St. Xavier HS
#25 - Khari Harding,  6-1,  205,  LB,  Edmond, Okla.,  Santa Fe HS
#26 - Malik Rucker,  6-0,  175,  DB,  Minneapolis, Minn.,  Robbinsdale Cooper HS
#28 - Eric Beisel,  6-4,  235,  LB,  Fenton, Mo.,  Rockwood Summit HS
#29 - Cameron Vanwinkle,  5-11, 165,  K-P,  Fall City, Wash.,  Mount Si HS
#32 - Reggie Spearman,  6-2,  210,  LB,  Burnham, Ill.,  Simeon HS
#40 - Daeshon Hall,  6-6,  235,  DE,  Lancaster, Texas,  Lancaster HS
#41 - Justin Bridges-Thompson,  6-2,  200,  LB,  Spartanburg, S.C.,  Spartanburg HS
#43 - Lance Duran,  6-0,  215,  LB,  Austin, Texas,  Westlake HS
#44 - Dakota Jackson,  6-3,  250,  TE,  Roanoke, Va.,  Northside HS
#54 - Cory Jasudowich,  6-2,  235,  LB,  North Branford, Conn.,  Cheshire HS
#62 - Bobby Billingsley,  6-2,  273,  OL,  Memphis, Tenn.,  Memphis East HS
#63 - Alec Abeln,  6-4,  275,  OL,  St. Louis, Mo.,  St. Louis University HS
#66 - Phil Clay,  6-3,  275,  OL,  Plainfield, Ind.,  Plainfield HS
#68 - Austin Bland,  6-3,  275,  OL,  Weston, Fla.,  St. Thomas Aquinas HS
#70 - Hunter Bivin,  6-7,  288,  OL,  Owensboro, Ky.,  Apollo HS
#72 - Logan Tuley-Tillman,  6-7,  321,  OL,  Peoria, Ill.,  Manual HS
#77 - Ethan Pocic,  6-7,  285,  OL,  Lemont, Ill.,  Lemont HS
#78 - Logan Stott,  6-3,  300,  OL,  St. George, Utah,  Pine View HS
#79 - Jack Kurzu,  6-4,  305,  OL,  St. Louis, Mo.,  MICDS
#81 - Tyler Provo,  6-3,  240,  TE,  West Palm Beach, Fla.,  American Heritage HS
#88 - Durham Smythe,  6-6,  230,  TE,  Belton, Texas,  Belton HS
#98 - Jacob Hyde,  6-2,  338,  DT,  Manchester, Ky.,  Clay County HS
#99 - Herbert Moore,  6-1,  335,  DT,  Memphis, Tenn., Memphis East HS

U.S. Under-19 National Team coaching staff: Steve Specht Cincinnati, Ohio St. Xavier  (Head Coach)  Chris Merritt Miami, Fla. Christopher Columbus (Offensive Coordinator)  Rick Streiff Indianapolis, Ind. Cathedral (Defensive Coordinator)  Tom Bolden Cincinnati, Ohio Colerain (Offensive line)  Gabe Infante Philadelphia, Pa. St. Joseph’s (Defensive line)  Ken Lucas Annapolis, Md. Annapolis Area Christian (Secondary)  Greg McCaig Houston, Texas Cypress Creek (Tight Ends & Special Teams)  Cory Moore St. Petersburg, Fla. Lakewood (Linebackers)  Charlie Ward Houston, Texas Westbury Christian (Wide Receivers)  L.D. Williams Austin, Texas Westwood (Offensive line)

Team USA's first game will be on June 30th against American Samoa.

Below are the rest of the first-round match-ups:

June 30th
#1 USA vs. #8 American Samoa
#2 Canada vs. #7 Sweden
#3 Japan vs. #6 France
#4 Panama vs. #5 Austria

The semifinals will be played on July 3rd, with the championship game set for July 7th.  All of the games will be played at Burger Stadium in Austin.

In the past month I've spoke with USA Football executive director Scott Hallenbeck and Team USA head coach Steve Specht on High School Football America's radio show.

Click here to listen to the Hallenbeck interview.

Click here to listen to the Specht interview.

MQVM6BUTA554

Talking World Championship and Berwick Football Tonight on High School Football America Radio Show

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Join me tonight at 7 P.M. Eastern for the latest edition of High School Football America on the ArtistFirst Radio Network.

My guests tonight will be Scott Hallenbeck, executive director of USA Football, and the legendary George Curry, who has come out of retirement to once again be the head football coach of Berwick High School in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Hallenbeck and I will discuss the upcoming Under-19 International Federation of America Football World Championship that will be played June 30th through July 7th in Austin, Texas.  Team USA won the inaugural event in 2009.

Then I will talk with Curry, who built one of America's first national powerhouse programs in the 80's and 90's in the tiny town of Berwick.  The Bulldogs have won three mythical national titles to go along with six Pennsylvania state championships.

Curry is seventh on America's all-time coaching wins list with 413 victories coming into this season.

Click here to listen to tonight's show live.

You can also click here to listen to my May 10th interview with St. Xavier (Ohio) head coach Steve Specht, who will serve as head coach of Team USA in Austin.

Remember, you can listen to all of our past shows free and on-demand by going to www.artistfirst.com/jefffisher.htm.

USA Football Announces Team USA Under-19 Coaching Staff

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

If you listen to the May 10th High School Football America radio show, you heard how excited St. Xavier (Cincinnati, OH) head coach Steve Specht was to also be the head coach of USA Football's Under-19 national team that will be playing for a world championship in Austin, Texas in about a month.

Yesterday, USA Football, the sport's national governing body, announced the other members of Specht's staff that will be helping him try to defend the gold medal that Team USA won in the inaugural IFAF Under-19 World Championships in 2009.

The man that led the Red, White and Blue to that first championship three years ago in Canton, Ohio is back.  Chris Merritt, the head coach at Christopher Columbus in Miami will be Specht's offensive coordinator.  Specht was Merritt's defensive coordinator in 2009.

This year's defensive coordinator will be Rick Streiff of Indianapolis Cathedral, who has led his school to seven Indiana state titles in 17 years at the school.

Below is the rest of Specht's staff:

• Tom Bolden, Colerain (OH) - offensive line coach
• Gabe Infante, St. Joseph's Prep (PA) - defensive line coach
• Ken Lucas, Annapolis Area Christian School (MD), secondary coach
• Greg McCaig, Cypress Creek (TX), tight ends and special teams coach
• Cory Moore, Lakewood (FL), linebackers coach
• Charlie Ward, Westbury Christian School (TX), wide receivers coach
• L.D. Williams, Westwood (TX), offensive line coach

Click here to read the entire news release from USA Football.

Click here to listen to my interview with Coach Specht on May 10th on the High School Football America radio show.

The world championships will begin June 30th, ending with the gold medal game on July 7th.

To learn more about the IFAF Under-19 World Championships, click here to go to the event website.