Game MVPs Charles Nelson (28) of USA and Canada's Trivel Pinto (7) pose following a 43-7 USA victory in the U19 International Bowl game at the University of Texas-Arlington's Maverick Stadium on Friday.
Photo courtesy of USA Football/Trey Bell
Measuring in at 5-foot-9 inches and 170 pounds,
Charles Nelson of
Seabreeze (Daytona Beach, Fla.) is the smallest member of the Under 19 U.S. National football team.
St. Peter's Prep running back Jonathan Hilliman
stiff arms a defender in USA's 43-7 win over
Canada. Hillman is headed to Boston College.
Photo courtesy of USA Football/Trey Bell
But no worries. Nelson, a University of Oregon-signee from Ormond Beach, Fla., earned MVP honors after Team USA's 43-7 victory over Football Canada in the feature game of the fifth annual International Bowl series Friday night at the University of Texas-Arlington's Maverick Stadium.
"I knew I was the smallest guy on the team, but that just made me more determined,'' said Nelson, a slot receiver and kick returner.
Nelson contributed the game's biggest play, both in distance and importance, with his 90-yard punt return in the second quarter that widened a two-point lead to eight, 15-7.
After bobbling the catch, Nelson cut to his right and outran pursuers to an open sideline.
"I was kind of nervous because I got hit really hard early in the game,'' Nelson said. "But I settled down and did things the way I usually do.''
Team USA's speed advantage was especially obvious in the kicking game, beginning with the opening kickoff carried back 60 yards by St. Rita (Chicago, Ill.) senior Tommy Mister (Indiana-signee) to set up an opening field goal.
"We‘re the U.S. and we‘re all about speed,'' said Nelson, who also contributed five catches for 56 yards. "I mean in Florida, where I'm from, speed is the name of the game. Canada seemed to have a lot of big guys.''
Lutheran North defensive lineman Renell Wren
barrels down on Canada quarterback Dante Djan.
Wren is headed to Arizona State.
Photo courtesy of USA Football/Trey Bell
If the 31 degree temperature at kickoff didn't make the Canadians feel right at home, a gift touchdown in the opening six minutes should have.
Problems on a Team USA handoff exchange led to a fumble Football Canada linebacker Ethan Makonzo recovered in the end zone for a 7-3 lead. But that would be all the points the visitors could muster.
Harrison Phillips, of
Millard West (Omaha, Neb.), and the U.S. defense made sure of that, pitching a shutout.
"It's very satisfying to hear our defensive coordinator say this is the best defense he can remember,'' said defensive tackle Phillips, a Stanford signee. "I think we proved American football is best.''
Phillips and
Enoch Smith Jr.., a Michigan State signee from
Mount Carmel (Chicago, Ill.), led the U.S. team is solo tackles with five apiece.
TJ Harrell (Michigan State), of
Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.),
Vincent Jackson, of
Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), and Deionte Thompson (Alabama) contributed pass interceptions.
Thompson's interception on the third play of the second half set up a 6-yard touchdown pass from Chris Durkin (Virgina Tech), of Ursuline (Youngstown, Ohio), to tight end Avery Edwards (North Carolina), of Ravenscroft (Raleigh, N.C.), for a 29-7 Team USA lead.
Lovejoy senior receiver Justice Lucé stiff arms
Josh Dahl during USA's 43-7 win on Friday. Luce
is headed to Texas A&M-Commerce.
Photo courtesy of USA Football/Trey Bell
Oklahoma-bound running back
Samaje Perine (six carries, 53 yards), of
Hendrickson (Pflugerville, Texas), tacked on the last two touchdowns with runs of six and 28 yards.
Team USA led 22-7 at halftime. A 32-yard field goal by Clemson-bound Alex Spence started the scoring.
Durkin in the first quarter guided the U.S. team on a 64-yard, eight-play drive, doing the scoring honors himself on a 4-yard run to put the home team ahead for good, 9-7. Durkin, from Youngstown, Ohio, completed two passes for 35 yards and rushed three times for 17 yards on the drive. He finished 5 of 5 passing for 51 yards.
Jalan McClendon, a North Carolina State signee from
West Mecklenburg (Charlotte, N.C.), also engineered a 64-yard scoring drive in the first half. McClendon connected with Nelson for 21 yards and after a 27-yard run by Northwestern-bound Justin Jackson, kept for a 2-yard touchdown and a 22-7 halftime lead.
Jackson, from Carroll Stream, Ill., led all rushers with 70 yards on four attempts.
It was a short night for Team USA defensive linemen Jalen Jelks and Trey Lealaimatafao. Both were ejected in the first half after drawing personal foul penalties.
Results of the first two International Bowl games on Friday:
U16: Team BC 10, USA 7
A 26-yard fourth-quarter field goal by Adam Turrin snapped a 7-7 tie and carried the Canadian team to a 10-7 victory over the U16 U.S. National team Friday evening at Maverick Stadium.
Kenny Pickett of Oakhurst, N.J., connected with wide receiver Jonathan Gurrola of Kingsbury Calif., on a 10-yard scoring pass in the second quarter to tie the score, 7-7.
Team BC took a 7-0 in the first period when Giordy Belfiore hooked up with Tyler Moxin on a scoring pass.
Emilio Martinez of Salinas, Calif., led the US team with 13 rushes for 86 yards. Denzell Brown from Washington D.C. was on the receiving end of a 38-yard pass from Dante Sparaco of Glenwood Springs, Colo.
U15: USA 48, Football Ontario 0
In the opening game of Friday's International Bowl triple-header, the U.S. team scored 21 points in the first quarter and cruised to the shutout victory.
John Bailey Gullat, a linebacker from Good Hope Middle School in West Monroe, La., returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown and was named MVP.
Running back Kian Williams was named MVP for Football Ontario.
