The USA Football “Team USA vs The World” game, presented by Riddell showcased some of the best 19 under athletes from around the world. The USA Football’s Junior National Team consisted of 45 high school seniors many of whom committed to some of nation’s top college programs.

The group traveled to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with the daunting task of only four days to become a team.  The team led by head coach Chris Merritt proved how athletic and talented they were as they pulled off a 17-0 shut-out on Saturday, January 30 against Team World. The World team was a collective squad of the best under-19 American fooball players from around the world representing eight countries and four continents.  

Team USA capitalized on the psychological advantage of having broken a first half deadlock with a touchdown with only nine seconds remaining and then added a third quarter touchdown and late field goal to edge the contest. The World team was left wondering what might have been.

Canadian quarterback Jeremi Doyon-Roch (Vanier College) was intercepted by Team USA MVP Mike Hull (Canon-McMillan, Pa.) late in the third quarter with the World team trailing 14-0 and facing a crucial third and seven at the USA 12-yard line. There was to be no comeback once Team USA capitalized, driving into range for kicker Ben Hopfinger (St. Thomas Aquinas) to split the uprights from 40 yards out.

Neither team was able to move the ball for the remainder of the first quarter, but to open the second; Team USA sustained a drive that looked likely to put points on the board. Aided by a roughing the kicker penalty that earned a first down after having to punt, Team USA quarterback Mark Myers (St. Ignatius, Ohio), who had been run into when punting, connected with Sam Gagliano (Waxahachie, Texas) for a 16-yard gain. He then found Quinton Dunbar (Booker T Washington, Fla.) and Anthony Creecy (Southern Durham, N.C.), closing in on field goal range.

A Christian Walcott (Concordia University) tackle on Myers for a loss of 7 yards brought out the field goal unit and German defensive end Bjoern Werner (Salisbury School, Conn.), who has been highly recruited by leading US colleges, blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt by Hopfinger.

That should have left the first half scoreless, but Dunbar produced an elusive punt return, at one point forced back to his own 5-yard mark, to take the ball out to within a yard of midfield, a touchdown return denied by the tackle of punter Tyler Crapigna (Ottawa Myers Riders).

Quarterback Tyler Smith (Wilson Area HS, Pa.) went to work immediately, hooking up on a spectacular 50-yard pass downfield that Josh Reese (Miami Central, Fla.) would have taken all the way to pay dirt but for a saving tackle by Dylan Hollohan (St. Francis Xavier) at the 1-yard mark. Reese fumbled and recovered the ball on the play then from a yard out, Ethan Grant (North Broward Prep, Fla.) scored to give Team USA a 7-0 halftime lead with only nine seconds left on the clock.

What proved to be the killer blow came at the start of the second half. Team USA drove steadily toward its second touchdown and used the no-huddle offense effectively. Dontae Williams (Aldine, Texas) gained 11 yards on two carries, Jakhari Gore (Miami Columbus, Fla.) rushed for 21 off three carries and Myers went to the air for a 25-yard connection with Gagliano.

From 5 yards out, Williams burst over the right tackle to earn a two-touchdown lead after Hopfinger added the extra point.

The World team enjoyed success moving the chains on the ground, with team MVP Hampus Hellermark (Sweden) being the most effective rusher finishing with 64 yards off 12 carries. But the passing game proved less effective, especially on third down.

Team USA closed out the third quarter and the contest with a confident 40-yard field goal from Hopfinger.

The World team produced a steady 15-play, 50-yard drive that threatened to break the shutout late on, but Hellermark lost yards on a swing pass on fourth and goal as Team USA held firm.

Myers led Team USA with 7 of 10 pass attempts completed for 79 yards, while Smith contributed 5 of 10 for 105 yards. Keiwone Malone (Mitchell, Tenn.) had four receptions for 41 yards, Gagliano had three for 46 and Reese secured two for 72. On the ground, Gore rushed 11 times for 53 yards, Williams 10 times for 59 yards and a touchdown and Grant seven times for 11 yards.

Hull and Travis Williams (Lake Taylor, Va.) led the Americans with eight tackles each, with Hull claiming the game's only interception. Steele Divitto (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.) had eight tackles and a sack, while Josh Huff (Nimitz, Texas) recorded two sacks and four tackles.

Team USA claimed the inaugural USA Football’s Team USA vs. the World game presented by Riddell and IFAF would like to honor their performance naming them IFAF.org January Team on the Month.