Canada’s under-18 national team falls to the United States at 2020 International Bowl

By Mike Still

For a second consecutive year, bragging rights at the U18 level went to the United States, as they topped Canada 29-14 in the International Bowl in Arlington, Texas. 

The Americans didn’t trail at any point, led all game long by receivers Seven McGee — the game MVP with 198 all-purpose yards — and Lemeke Brockington. The duo were dangerous in numerous ways, making plays in the kick return game, on screen passes and jet sweeps as well as in the deep game. 

McGee — a 5’10”, 180-pound Oregon commit out of Rochester, New York — set up the opening score of the game on an 80-yard jet sweep where he made three different defenders miss in the open field. The drive was capped off by a Samson Olson touchdown pass from Gavin Kuld with 4:49 to go in the opening quarter. 

Team Canada responded with 11:09 to go in the second courtesy of running back Noah Anderson’s one-yard touchdown plunge, however the Americans re-took the lead 15-7 heading into the break thanks to running back Nathan Turner on a misdirection play as well as a Mcgee score on the fake convert. 

The second USA major was set up by a long interception return from defensive back Maxiumus Pulley and was one of two interceptions for the red, white and blue in the first half. 

Canada’s defence also did their part in the first half, getting a forced fumble from linebacker Isaac Dokken — the Winnipeg High School Football League Division 1 Most Outstanding Defensive Player — as well as two sacks from Canada Cup defensive MVP Seth Hundeby. 

The red and white defence stepped up again to begin the third, as University of Saskatchewan commit Lane Novak punched the ball out of USA pivot Bryce Drummond’s hands and right into the arms of University of Alberta commit Tyson Krushelniski. The play couldn’t have come at a better time for the Saskatchewan natives, as the Americans had driven the ball to their opponent’s one-yard line. 

Canada was able to move the ball on the ground all game thanks to excellent blocking up front, but the Americans were able to bend but not break on multiple occasions defensively. They eventually increased their lead to 22-7 thanks to a 70-yard Brockington touchdown reception with 3:33 to play in the third. 

Canada’s run game proved too strong to start the fourth quarter, as backs Matthew Morin and Ryker Frank — one of three returning players from last year — continued to find room up the middle. They once again cut America’s lead to one score with 9:26 to go thanks to Frank, but couldn’t get any closer. 

A third Hundeby sack gave Canada hope with seven minutes to play, however a costly roughing the kicker penalty extended the USA’s drive and they closed the scoring out three minutes later thanks to running back Amir Pittman-Williams. 

“I thought our guys battled right to the end,” Team Canada head coach Steve Sumarah said postgame. 

“Football is a game of four or five plays in every game and the ones that sometimes go with you, they turn into Ws and the ones that go against you turn into losses. It wasn’t for a lack of effort or lack of execution. Sometimes things don’t go your way. I’m proud of the way these guys played and the effort from everyone, from coaches to staff.”

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