On top of all the offensive fireworks, the USA defense allowed a scant 142 yards and made big hits all night in a 42-10 win over the World in the fourth annual International Bowl at Kelly Reeves Athletic complex Tuesday.
Courtesy USA Football
Any question that USA's Under-19 football team was hungry for a victory was answered on the opening kickoff.
Kicker Matthew McCrane recovered his own onside kick leading to his own 31-yard field goal and the USA was in attack mode the rest of the way en route to a 42-10 victory Tuesday over the World in the fourth annual International Bowl at Kelly Reeves Sports Complex.
USA Player of the Game Terrell Newby
rushed for a game-high 88 yards and
scored a touchdown.
Courtesy USA Football
The dynamic rushing trio of Terrell Newby, Damien Haskins and Chase Abbington plus a rugged defense helped USA forget last year's 35-29 victory by the World. Combined that defeat with Canada's 23-17 victory over USA in the World Championships in July and the Americans came in with a greater sense of urgency.
Coaches told them coming into the week to act like an underdog and instead they looked like the big dog most thought they would be when international play began.
"This feels so much better than last summer," said Connecticut-bound linebacker Cory Jasudowich, one of six USA players who lost to Canada. "Our coaches did a lot of screaming and yelling before we came out here and fueled our fire. And that onside kick got it all started. I'm beyond excited about this game."
So was head coach Aaron Brady, who didn't show it like the vivacious Jasudowich. Part of the reason for that was because the Gonzaga (Washington D.C.) coach is 10 days removed from having surgery to deal with an emergency appendectomy. He probably shouldn't have even made the trip, but how well his team seemed to mesh in just a week's time, let alone Tuesday's victory made it all worth it.
USA broke International Bowl records for points and total yards 422. The Americans absolutely controlled the clock (34:02 to 12:05), held the World to eight first downs and 142 yards and generally just had a good time.
"I think this group of guys knew what playing for USA meant," Brady said. "There was a pride factor here. They bought in to what the staff was trying to do, we tried to make it simple and they played better than when we could have even expected.
"They made it easy on my stomach. I didn't have to get fired up at all."
It didn't hurt to have guys like team Player of the Game and Nebraska recruit Newby, a super shifty 5-foot-10, 180-pounder, who rushed 12 times for 89 yards, caught a touchdown pass and set up another score with a nifty 66-yard kickoff return.
"This is the best way I can think of to end my high school career," Newby said. "The coaches said this was the best USA team they've had and it definitely showed tonight. We got along so well. It's sad not to play with these guys again but we'll definitely stay in touch."
Haskins, a more physical 5-9, 213-pounder headed to Oregon State, punished the World secondary with eight carries and 84 yards and a touchdown. He also finished off a 20-yard run off a fake punt by absolutely running over a defender.
It epitomized the USA's fury and dominance. Haskins also scored on a 3-yard run and a two-point conversion.
"Our line play on both sides was exceptional," Brady said. "They've been a strength all week and they really dominated at the point of attack."
Maryland-bound quarterback Shane Cockerille showed why everyone has been gushing about him all week. He rushed for a 3-yard touchdown, threw an 8-yard scoring toss to Newby following a great fake and completed 10 of 18 for a USA record 120 yards.
The defense got interceptions from Shaquem Griffin and Tere Calloway and turned both of them into touchdowns. Griffin, who lost his left hand as a youth due to a birth defect, made a spectacular, diving interception that thwarted a first-quarter World red zone drive.
Then the USA essentially put it away with a 16 play, 90-yard drive capped by Cockerille's 3-yard TD run making it 10-0. When Haskins finished off a 45-yard drive with a 3-yard TD and two-point conversion the USA was off and running.
By the end of the third quarter, USA held a 299-84 edge and yards and then got touchdowns by Abbington on a 3-yard run and backup quarterback Austin Henyon completed a 15-yard TD pass Rodney Adams.
Adams was also on the team that lost in the summer and he said this one tasted quite a bit different.
"That loss left a nasty taste in my mouth," said Adams, who will choose between Cincinnati and Toledo for his college career on Wednesday. "This one tasted sweet. This was my last shot, I'm glad I got in the end zone so I could go out with a bang."
USA 42, World Team 10USA 3 22 3 14 — 42
World 0 3 0 7 — 10
First quarterUSA - FG, McCrane 31, 8:02
Second quarterUSA — Cockerille 3 run (McCrane kick), 11:32
USA — Haskins 3 run (Haskins run), 7:23
W — FG, Simoneau 39, 3:32
USA — Newby 8 pass from Cockerille (McCranke kick), 0:31
Third quarterUSA — FG, McCrane 27, 5:58
Fourth quarterUSA — Abbington 4 run (McCrane kick)
W — Demski 61 run (Simoneau kick), 7:37
USA — Adams 12 pass from Henyon (McCrane kick), 5:17
