Eight student-athletes from four different countries are already making their mark as members of the 2009 USA Football International Student Program playing prep school American Football in the United States.

 

The ISP initiative is in its fourth year and is administered jointly by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and USA Football and in 2009-10 features international football prospects from Australia, Denmark, Germany and Sweden. The schools currently taking part in the ISP are the Kent School (CT), Salisbury School (CT), Lake Forest Academy (IL) and Kimball Union Academy (NH).

 

This past weekend three members of the ISP helped their prep school football team to an overtime victory in Connecticut.

 

The Kent School scored eight points in the last minute of regulation to force overtimes.  First-year ISP member Damien Scannella (Stockholm, Sweden) played a big part in the team’s success as he caught a tipped two-point conversion pass in the corner of the end zone at the end of regulation as Kent School went on to defeat Trinity-Pawling School 28-22 on Friday.

 

Scannella, who previously played American football in Sweden for the STU Northside Bulls, played both ways during Kent School’s second victory of the season.  Along with his game changing two-point conversion catch, he made three receptions for 48 yards and at free safety had five tackles and a key fumble recovery. Scanella also starred for the Swedish junior national team this summer at the IFAF Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio.


Kent received valuable performances from two other first-year members; Nikola Bogojevic from Canberra, Australia and Rafael Oehme from Dresden, Germany started at nose guard and linebacker respectively for the second consecutive game.

 

Bogojevic who began his career with the Canberra Astros had two tackles during the victory and Oehme had a strong defensive performance collecting seven solo tackles and four assisted.

 

The three ISP members will line up for a third straight Friday night game on October 9 when they travel to Brunswick School.

 

Following a successful 2008 season with Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire, second-year ISP members Robert King (Copenhagen, Denmark) and Luke Robinson (Sydney, Australia) started off right where they left last year, helping the Wildcats to a convincing 41-8 victory against Hyde School on Saturday, October 3.

 

King started at offensive and defensive tackle for the Wildcats who ran the ball the majority of the day to great success as they scored four of six touchdowns on the run.  Robinson played center and defensive end during the Wildcats’ second victory of the 2009 season.

 

The two ISP members played on last year’s Kimball Union team that reached the NEPSAC Eaton-Estey championship bowl game and will look for another victory this weekend when they travel to Holderness School on Friday, October 9.

 

Second-year member Bjoern Werner (Berlin, Germany) played both ways during Salisbury School heartbreaking 26-24 loss to Avon Old Farms on Saturday, October 3.

 

Werner, who this summer played for Team Germany in the IFAF Junior World Championship, showcased the strength and quickness that has him highly rated by Rivals.com and Scout.com, making 12 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery on the defensive side.  At tight end, Werner made three catches for 25 yards.

 

Teammate and Hamburg, Germany native Kai Brusch added four tackles and two quarterback hurries to the Salisbury School defensive presence.  The German natives will look for their first victory of the season on Saturday, October 10 when they host Taft School.  

 

First-year member Lorenz Narku Laing from Mainz, Germany is the lone ISP member playing American football in Illinois and he started at right guard during Lake Forest Academy’s 33-32 loss to Western Reserve Academy on Saturday, October 3.  Lorenz made one tackle for the Caxy as they fell to 2-4 on the season and Lake Forest Academy will look to improve their record on Saturday, October 10 when they travel to La Lumiere School.

 

 

Scores & Stats

 

Friday, September 25

 

Trinity-Pawling School 22

@ Kent School 28 (OT)

 

Damien Scannella (Sweden)

Kent School, 1st year, WR / FS

3-48 yards receiving , 2pt conversion catch

5 tackles, FR 

 

Nikola Bogojevic (Australia)

Kent School, 1st year, OT/DL

Started at Nose Guard

2 tackles 

 

Rafael Oehme Rasgado (Germany)

Kent School, 1st year, LB

Started at linebacker

7 solo tackles, 4 assisted 

 

Saturday, September 26

Lake Forest Academy 32

@ Western Reserve Academy 33 

 

Lorenz Narku Laing (Germany)

LFA, 1st year, OG/DT

Started at Right Guard 

1 tackle 

 

Old Avon Farms 26 

@ Salisbury School 24

 

Bjoern Werner(Germany)

Salisbury School, 2nd year, TE/DL 

12 tackles, 1 Sack, FF, FR
3-25 yards receiving

 

Kai Brusch (Germany)

Salisbury School, 2nd year, DE/TE

4 tackles, 2 Quarterback hurries

 

Hyde School 8

@ Kimball Union Academy 41

 

Luke Robinson (Australia)

KUA, 2nd year, OL/DL

Started at Center & Def. End

 

Robert King (Denmark)

KUA, 2nd year, OL/DL

Started at Off. Tackle & Def. Tackle

 

 

Upcoming Games:

 

Friday, October 9

Kent School @ Brunswick School

7:00pm

Kimball Union Academy @ Holderness School

3:00pm

 

Saturday, October 3 

Taft School @ Salisbury School

3:30pm

Lake Forest Academy @ La Lumiere School

3:30pm