International Bowl: USA playing for keeps against IFAF World Team

AUSTIN, Texas — Cory Jasudowich described the taste as sour. Like a bitter lemon. Grown in Canada.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker from Cheshire Academy (Cheshire, Conn.) was on the USA under-19 team that lost in the World Championships to Canada 23-17. That was only six months after the IFAF World Team defeated the Americans 35-29 in last year's International Bowl.

Tonight, Team USA has loads of motivation to prevail in the fourth annual International Bowl at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex. The game will be televised live (8 p.m. CT) in the United States and Canada on CBS Sports Network and streamed internationally at www.youtube.com/usafootball.

"It was rough," said Jasudowich, a vivacious team leader who was voted team captain for a second straight game. "As a team captin, I'm trying to convey to the guys what a sour taste that was, that we need to bring it to the table (tonight)."

Beyond a new scheme, under new first-year head coach Aaron Brady, and primarily a new roster, Jasudowich said the approach this week as been team bonding. Not the surface kind.

"The family stuff," said Jasudowich, who said his letter of intent Wednesday to Connecticut in the nation's largest National Signing Day ceremony at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. "We really need to have each other's back. These guys (the World Team) might be a little bigger and older, but we're going to have more heart. We want to win badly."

Jasudowich is very big into family. That's largely why he decommitted from Boston College to stay near home in Connecticut.

He said his mother Lisa and father Ken have not missed an athletic even he's played in. Ever.

"Since I started playing flag football when I was four," Jasudowich said. "That's who I play for. That's why I always play so hard because I know my family is in the stands. They've their for me every step of the way. I owe everything to them."

He's also close to his sister Alisha, who is also athletic. "Family is everything and that's what I'm hoping comes across with our team tonight."

Team USA coaches and players arrived a week ago. After 10 practices and a walkthrough, the U.S. coaching staff has shown 45 of the best high school football players in America what they need to do.

It's up to them now to go out and execute the plan.

"Everybody is as ready as they are going to be," said Team USA quarterback and captain Shane Cockerille of Gilman (Baltimore, Md.). "There's nothing more to refine. We're ready to play. We're excited."

Brady of Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga College Prep was the defensive line coach in 2011, when Team USA beat the World Team, 21-14. Last year's loss, the first in three games for the U.S., still stings.

"This is a huge game for myself, the staff, the players and everyone associated with USA Football," Brady said. "There is national pride riding on this. There was a lot of work put in to get us all to where we are."

Team USA installed an offense and defense in six days, bringing together 45 players and eight coaches from 20 different states. The schemes are designed to adjust on the fly because little is known of the other team.

No film has been traded. There's no scouting reports.

"It's our job to put players in the position to make plays. It's up to them to make them," Brady said. "These are elite athletes. We are not going to slow them down with too many assignments. We want them to play fast."

Cockerille said the players appreciate that, and they know what's on the line in this game as well. They want to prove that the best football is still being played here in the United States.

"We are getting a chance to play for our country," Cockerille said. "We take that to heart."

IN THE TRENCHES: The toughest challenge of any game like the International Bowl is gelling along the offensive line. One breakdown up front can leave an entire offense going backward.

It helps when players are as talented as the one Team USA has, U.S. offensive line coach Joe Dale Cary said. It helps even more when they like and respect each other.

"This group of guys are really a unit," said Cary, an assistant coach at Port Neches-Groves High School. "They picked up everything really quick, and they've got each other's backs."

The admiration is mutual. Left guard Colin Goebel, an Iowa commit from Naperville North (Naperville, Ill.), said when Coach Cary speaks, all the linemen listen.

"I like his aggressive way of playing offensive line – going all out on every play," Goebel said. "He's a great coach, he knows a lot. He is really emphasizing footwork, which is key."

POWER LUNCH: Former University of Texas All-American and two-time Super Bowl champion Dan Neil spoke to Team USA on Monday during the USA National Team Luncheon presented by Marriott.

Neil offered advice to the Team USA players who will sign Wednesday with top college programs, and he provided some insight into his experiences as a football player.

Hard work, self-discipline, preparation and staying humble are the keys to success at the sport's highest levels, Neil said. Everybody on the team has to contribute toward success, even if everyone doesn't share in the limelight.

"As soon as you care more about the guy next to you than you do about yourself, you have a chance to build something," said Neil, who played right guard for the Denver Broncos in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII. "When everyone is doing that, you have a chance to be champions."

Neil also stressed the importance of earning a degree while in college. An education benefits a player during his football career and after.

"You will not make it in the NFL if you cannot study and learn," Neil said. "We will all get beat physically at some point or another, but coaches have no patience for someone who gets beat mentally."

USA Football writer Joe Frollo contributed to this report.

U.S. Under-19 National Team roster:

No	Name	Pos	Ht	Wt	High school	Hometown	College verbal
1	Jourdan Lewis	DB	5-10	159	Cass Tech	Detroit, Mich.	Michigan
2	Shane Cockerille	QB	6-2	205	Gilman School	Baltimore, Md.	Maryland
3	Devin Butler	WR	6-1	179	Gonzaga College	Washington, D.C.	Notre Dame
4	Justin Bridges-Thompson	LB	6-2	195	Spartanburg	Spartanburg, S.C.	UNC-Charlotte
6	Ishmael Hyman	WR	6-0	170	St. John Vianney	Holmdel, N.J.	Kansas
7	Rodney Adams	WR	6-1	166	Lakewood	St. Petersburg, Fla.	Undecided
8	Austin Henyon	QB	6-1	195	Trinity Valley	Benbrook, Texas	Undecided
9	Deric Robertson	DB	6-2	195	Killeen	Killeen, Texas	Oklahoma State
10	Shaquem Griffin	DB	6-1	183	Lakewood	St. Petersburg, Fla.	Central Florida
11	Taurean Ferguson	DB	5-9	170	Jonesboro	Jonesboro, Ga.	Vanderbilt
13	Delando Johnson	LB	6-2	180	Calvert Hall	Towson, Md.	Toledo
15	Matthew McCrane	K-P	5-11	165	Brownwood	Brownwood, Texas	Kansas State
16	Brandon McDowell	WR	5-9	170	DeSoto	DeSoto, Texas	Texas State
17	Lance Virgile	LB	6-2	215	St. Thomas Aquinas	Miramar, Fla.	Wake Forest
18	Paul James	DL	6-4	245	Norland	Miami, Fla.	Illinois
20	Marco DelVecchio	DB	5-11	185	Bishop Hendricken	Warwick, R.I.	Undecided
21	Tere Calloway	DB	5-11	185	Seattle Prep	Seattle, Wash.	Nevada
22	Chase Abbington	RB	6-4	210	Fort Zumwalt South	St. Peters, Mo.	Missouri
23	Damien Haskins	RB	5-9	213	New Boston	New Boston, Texas	Oregon State
24	Shaquill Griffin	DB	6-0	184	Lakewood	St. Petersburg, Fla.	Central Florida
25	Darrell Songy	LB	6-1	220	John B. Connally	Pflugerville, Texas	Oregon State
30	Samuel Douglas	LB	6-2	185	Arlington	Arlington, Texas	TCU
32	Khalid Hill	TE	6-2	230	East English Village Prep	Detroit, Mich.	Michigan
34	Terrell Newby	RB	5-10	180	Chaminade College	West Hills, Calif.	Nebraska
40	Ben Gedeon	LB	6-3	215	Hudson	Hudson, Ohio	Michigan
50	Donovan Munger	OL	6-4	290	Shaker Heights	Shaker Heights, Ohio	Ohio State
54	Cory Jasudowich	LB	6-2	235	Cheshire Academy	Cheshire, Conn.	Connecticut
57	Wyatt Teller	DL	6-4	264	Liberty	Bealeton, Va.	Virginia Tech
60	Austin Droogsma	OL	6-4	305	Gulf Breeze	Gulf Breeze, Fla.	Florida State
61	Aubry Beal	OL	6-1	285	DeSoto	DeSoto, Texas	Air Force
63	Octavius Jackson	OL	6-4	285	Colquitt County	Moultrie, Ga.	Florida
66	Jacob Hyde	DL	6-2	313	Clay County	Manchester, Ky.	Kentucky
70	Ben Hughes	DL	6-2	310	University	Waco, Texas	Oklahoma State
72	Jake Campos	OL	6-7	250	Valley	West Des Moines, Iowa	Iowa State
73	Colin Goebel	OL	6-5	280	North	Naperville, Ill.	Iowa
77	Sam Kronshage	OL	6-5	300	The Woodlands	Woodlands, Texas	Colorado
78	Jake Thomas	OL	6-6	305	Columbus	Columbus, Miss.	Mississippi State
79	Jack Kurzu	OL	6-4	313	Mary Institute Country Day	St. Louis, Mo.	Oklahoma State
81	Derrick Willies	WR	6-3	190	Rock Island	Rock Island, Ill.	Iowa
86	Alex Leslie	TE	6-5	220	New Braunfels	New Braunfels, Texas	Iowa State
88	Quincy Adeboyejo	WR	6-3	175	Cedar Hill	Cedar Hill, Texas	Mississippi
99	Tevin Montgomery	DL	6-5	295	Tabor Academy	Marion, Mass.	Boston College
	*-Tyler Bruggman	QB	6-1	190	Brophy Prep	Phoenix, Ariz.	Washington State
	*-David Dawson	OL	6-4	282	Cass Tech	Detroit, Mich.	Michigan
	*-Matthew Miller	OL	6-5	260	St. John’s Jesuit	Maumee, Ohio	Wisconsin
	*-Lewis Neal	DL	6-1	232	Hunt	Wilson, N.C.	LSU
	*-Anu Solomon	QB	6-1	202	Bishop Gorman	Las Vegas, Nev.	Arizona
*-Injured, will not play

IFAF World Team roster:

No	Name	Pronounciation	Country	Pos.
1	Keegan Arnyek	Key-gan ARN-yek	Canada	CB/KR
2	David Nader	David NAY-der	Austria	DB
3	Yuta Shimozuru	YU-tah shim-o-ZU-ru	Japan	DB
4	Severin Haidacher	Sev-er-in HI-dog-er	Austria	DB
5	Keldyn Alhstedt	Kel-den ALL-sted	Canada	DB
6	Kevin McGee		Canada	DB
7	Michael Schmidt		Canada	DB
8	Rees Paterson		Canada	DB
9	Matthias Rebl	mah-THIGH-us REH-bull	Austria	DB
10	Robin Gonzalez		Mexico	WR
11	Anthony Mahoungou	mah-HON-gu	France	WR
12	Shaquille Johnson		Canada	WR
13	Brett Blaszko	BLAS-ko	Canada	WR
14	Louis-Philippe Simoneau	lou-EE fell-EEP SIM-on-oh	Canada	P/K
16	Antony Auclair	OW-clair	Canada	QB
17	Drew Burko	Drew BURK-oh	Canada	QB
18	Hugo Richard		Canada	QB
19	Daniel  Fereti	Daniel fer-RITZ-ee	American Samoa	QB
20	Fabian Seeber	SEE-bur	Austria	LB
21	Tanner Doll		Canada	LB
22	Connor Ralph		Canada	LB
23	Naoki Hayashi	nay-OH-kee hi-YASH-ee	Japan	LB
24	Francisco Dickinson		Mexico	LB/RB
25	Nic Demski		Canada	RB
26	Mercer Timmis		Canada	RB
27	Jorge Alcantara	HOR-hey ahl-can-TER-ah	Mexico	RB
28	Nicolas Khandar		France	RB
30	Dylan Bakker		Netherlands	LB
31	Malo Feula	MAL-ow fay-OO-la	American Samoa	LB
32	Howard Tautu	Howard tah-OO-tu	American Samoa	LB
33	Jean-Gabriel Poulin	John-Gabriel PULL-in	Canada	LB
50	Cosmo Anders		Austria	OL
60	Sean McEwen		Canada	OL
52	Jordan Arkko	AR-ko	Canada	OL
53	Jordan Filippelli	fill-eh-PELL-ey	Canada	OL
54	Fred Lauina	Fred la-WIN-ah	American Samoa	OL
55	Jordan Medal		Canada	OL
56	Joachim Christensen	YO-ah-kim	Denmark	OL
57	Kenzo Shimano	KEN-zo shi-MAN-oh	Japan	OL
51	Christian Cederquist	SEE-dur-quist	Denmark	OL/DL
80	Derrick Derah	dare-AH	Netherlands	WR
82	Adrià Botella	ah-dree-AH bo-TELL-ah	Spain	WR
83	Honda  Brandt-Ammon		Australia	WR, KR
90	Felix Schildorfer	SHILL-dor-fer	Austria	DL
91	Jacob LeBlanc		Canada	DL
92	Adam Melanson	Adam MEL-an-son	Canada	DL
93	Máximo Gonzálezsanchez		Mexico	DL
94	Brett Wade		Canada	DL
95	Brayden Twarynski	Bray-din twar-IN-skee	Canada	DL
96	Troy Weissbach	WEISS-bock	Canada	DL
97	Edward Godin	GOD-in		Canada