Team Canada downs USA in Under 18s at International Bowl IX

USA Football | 2018 International Bowl | 01/18/2018

Team Canada's Jalen Philpot named MVP

Team Canada scored 21 straight points to take command, and fought off multiple U.S. second-half comeback bids to defeat Team USA 44-26 at International Bowl IX to win their seventh game in the teams’ eight-year U-18 history.

The Canadians had lost to Team USA in 2017, 26-0.

That moment when Team Canada wins the U18 International Bowl 44-26 over Team USA! #FC2018IB #footballcanada #cdnfball 🇨🇦🏈 pic.twitter.com/RmGOmdjiTY

— Football Canada (@FootballCanada) January 18, 2018

“The guys all week long were so dialed into this game and this experience, to represent your country and come down to the mecca of football,” Canada coach Steve Sumarah said. “This meant a lot, for sure.”

With 115 yards and a touchdown, Jalen Philpot was selected MVP for Canada.

Final Score:

U.S. Under 18 National Team – 26@FootballCanada – 44

Congrats to MVP Jalen Philpot!#EarnYourStars #IB2018 pic.twitter.com/FQeoww2BP5

— U.S. National Team (@USNFT) January 18, 2018

Three interceptions and a lost fumble didn’t help the U.S.’ chances.

“The biggest difference was turnovers,” U.S. coach Matt Gegenheimer said. “You get in these games and they often come down to mistakes. You have to give it to Canada. That was a real good football team.”

The U.S. marched for a score on its first possession, as Cody Russell (Portage, Indiana) took a sweep left for a 19-yard TD. Brandon Dickerson (Fort Mill, South Carolina) added a 40-yard field goal for the U.S.’ other points of the first half.

Canada’s Antoine Couture hit field goals of 40 and 30 yards, and after the U.S. turned the ball over with 30 seconds left in the half, Tyson Rowe scored on a 1-yard run for a 13-11 Canada lead at halftime.

That momentum continued, as Philpot had a 3-yard TD catch on the first drive of the third quarter, and Adre Simmonds added a 4-yard TD for a 16-point advantage.

A 2-yard TD pass from Justin Allen (Leesburg, Virginia) to Christian Dremel (West Caldwell, New Jersey) got the U.S. back in it, and interception by Trey Rucker (Fairfax, Virginia) led to a 23-yard make by Dickerson to cut it to seven early in the fourth quarter.

Canada’s Tyson Philpot caught a 46-yard TD pass on the ensuing possession, but the U.S. countered with a 2-yard scoring run by AJ Brown (Grovetown, Georgia).

The Americans got no closer, as Couture hit his third field goal, and Nicolas Lessard had a 49-yard pick-six with seven seconds left.

“We came down with some talented kids, some kids with grit,” Sumarah said. “They brought it, against a talented team. It says a lot about where we’re going in this game.”