IFAF U19 World Championship: U.S. National Team dominates Sweden, wins bronze medal

| 2018 IFAF U19 World Championships | 07/23/2018

By Scott Goldman | Posted 7/22/2018

The U.S. National Team roared out of the locker room Sunday — and never looked back.

From the opening kickoff, the United States U19 team overwhelmed Sweden, scoring five touchdowns in a little more than a quarter en route to a 61-9 victory in the Bronze Medal game Sunday in Mexico City.

Quarterback Alek Jacobs threw three first-half touchdown strikes — two of them to Harrington Greer. Running back Treshaun Ward added two touchdown runs, including a 65-yarder midway through the second quarter.

The U.S. defense was outstanding, shutting down Sweden throughout the first half — including Stone Snyder‘s interception midway through the first quarter, which set the U.S. up for Greer’s 14-yard catch from Jacobs for a 14-0 lead with 2:42 left in the first.

Jacobs was masterful in running the U.S. offense in the first quarter, and drove the U.S. to the 1-yard line as the quarter ended. Ward snuck in on the first play of the second quarter for a 20-0 U.S. lead.

The ensuing kickoff, though, led to the U.S. breaking the game wide open. Dorian Davisrecovered the live ball after a pop-up onside kickoff, setting the U.S. up on Sweden’s 25. Jacobs needed only one play to hit Randy Rivera for the score.

After forcing another three-and-out for Sweden, it took the U.S. two plays to go 47 yards for another score, a gorgeous Jacobs strike to Greer.

Sweden started the second half attempting an onside kick, but the U.S. was prepared and recovered — and on the next play, Alec Meza raced 47 yards for the score, and a 54-2 lead for the United States.

Canada defended its 2016 title late Sunday, defeating host Mexico 13-7 in the gold medal game. Japan defeated Australia 51-14 in the fifth-place game.

SCORING SUMMARY
US — Chaise Ellis 39 run (pass failed)
US — Harrington Greer 14 pass Alek Jacobs ( Jacobs run)
US — Treshaun Ward 1 run (pass failed)
US — Randy Rivera 25 pass from Jacobs (Ali Jennings from Jacobs)
US — Greer 16 pass from Jacobs (Defensive PAT score — fumble returned by Sweden)
US — Ward 65 run (Grant Becker kick)
US — Jennings 22 run (kick failed)
US — Alec Meza 47 run (Becker kick)
Sweden — Jonathan Gustafsson 2 run (PAT good)
US — Ezekiel Ennis 38 pass from Jake O’Donnell (Becker kick)