2015 International Bowl: U18 Preview

Football Canada’s Under-18 National Team is preparing for their Friday January 30 rematch against Team USA at the 2015 International Bowl series in Arlington, Texas at AT&T (Cowboy) Stadium.

The series of games is a collaboration of the sport’s national governing bodies in each country – USA Football and Football Canada – featuring top student-athletes in football’s greatest annual international competition.

Four returning players

Canada has the benefit of returning four players from their 2014 U-18 National Team in addition a few more with International Bowl experience as part of their provincial programs.

“This time around, I feel like our team is more experienced,” returning fullback, Marquis Richards said. “We have 4 returning players and we are looking to lead this team to another victory over the US.”

About building a team in a week with players from across the country

“It’s tough as about 6 months ago I was playing against these players [in the Canada Cup],” said Brampton’s Richards. “I think in the days that we’ve been together, we’ve grown together as a family and we’re only going to grow stronger as we get closer to the game on Friday.”

Players to watch

Team USA

• Trevon Diggs, WR, Gaithersburg, Md. Diggs may be best known as the younger brother of current Maryland star Staffon Diggs, but Trevon’s talent will soon help him make his own mark on college football. At 6-0, 165, Diggs is one of a rare athletes who floats on the field seemingly on a separate gear. Look for him to emerge as one of the nation’s pre-eminent prospects.
• Joel Dublanko, LB, Aberdeen, Wash. Dublanko first joined USA Football as a member of the Under-16 program, instantly grabbing attention with his 6-3, 230-pound frame and excellent sense for the game. He has scholarship offers from Tennessee, Mississippi State and Washington State.
• Dwayne Haskins, QB, Potomac, Md. Haskins holds more than 30 NCAA FBS scholarship offers, including ones from Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Maryland. At 6-2, 185, he is recognized as one of the nation’s top prospects by all major recruiting services. Haskins competed on the inaugural 2011 Under-15 National Team in Canton, Ohio. His ability to excel in the classroom in recognizing defensive schemes and offensive strategies quickly set him apart.
• Eli Johnson, OL, Oxford, Miss. Johnson arose as a top prospects within the Class of 2016 class during a National Development Game week, where he displayed outstanding talent against some of the nation’s top pass rushers. The 6-3, 295-pound offensive lineman has verbally committed to play college football at Ole Miss.
• Jared Mayden, DB, Rowlett, Texas. USA Football fans first saw Mayden at a Regional Development Camp in 2013 and immediately saw the potential this prospect brings. The 6-foot, 190-pound Sachse High School star went on to play at the National Development Games and then for the Under-17 National Team, earning Game MVP honors. Mayden holds more than 30 NCAA FBS scholarship offers with programs such as Texas, Oregon, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Baylor. He is ranked among the nation’s top prospects by all major recruiting services (ESPN, Scout.com, Rivals.com and 24/7Sports).
• Darius Powe, WR, El Cerrito, H.S. Powe turned heads this past summer in Los Angeles during the National Development Games, where he ran crisp routes and showed tremendous ability to go up and get balls. Look for the 6-2, 195-pound Powe to emerge throughout the week as an elite pass catcher.
• Robert Washington, RB, Charlotte, N.C. Washington has been a member of the U.S. National Team at every age level, beginning with the 2011 Under-15 squad in Canton, Ohio. His selection to the Under-18 National Team marks a well-deserved honor. The 5-10, 215-pound Washington has more than 40 scholarship offers, including Ohio State, Nebraska, Michigan, Florida and Stanford.

Learn more about Team USA here

Team Canada

• Sawyer Buettner, QB, Albert E. Peacock H.S., Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan – Buettner was the 2014 Football Canada Cup offensive MVP after leading Saskatchewan-Green to a gold medal game berth for the first time since 2010. In the three-game tournament, he completed 49-of-69 passes (71 percent), throwing for 745 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. In the final, Sawyer went 23-of-35 for 260 yards and a touchdown. Buettner carried the momentum from the Canada Cup into the fall season, leading the Peacock Tornadoes to the 3A 12-man Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Associations championship. In Peacock’s 63-13 finals win against the Luther Lions, he threw for three touchdowns, adding a fourth on a 15-rushing touchdown.
• Marquis Richards, FB, Brampton Bulldogs, Brampton, Ontario – Richards is one of four Canadian players who returns to a second International Bowl as members of Canada’s Under-18 National Team. In his second year at the Canada Cup, Richards helped lead Team Ontario to its first Under-18 national championship since the event moved to a single U-18 division in 2010. Richards is a strong lead blocker and a dual threat as both a runner and receiver coming out of the backfield.
• Greg Hutchins, K, Charles P. Allen H.S., Bedford, Nova Scotia – Hutchins returns to his second International Bowl as a member of Canada’s U-18 National Team after winning the Canada Cup special teams MVP for a second consecutive year. In Saskatoon, Hutchins’ clutch kicking and ability to pin opponents deep in their own ends were a difference maker. In three games with Team Nova Scotia in 2014, Hutchins averaged 42 yards on 23 punts. He also was a perfect 6-for-6 on field goals.
• Deshawn Stevens, LB, Kent School (Conn.), Toronto, Ontario – Stevens wreaked havoc for Team Ontario’s opponents at the 2014 Canada Cup, earning the tournament’s defensive MVP honors. His performance included a 59-yard pick 6 against three-time defending champion Quebec to earn Ontario a trip to the gold medal game, where they beat Sask-Green. Stevens last played in Canada for the Metro Toronto Wildcats, who play in the Ontario Varsity Football League.
• Myles Browne, RB, Notre Dame H.S., Calgary, Alberta – Browne turned heads at the 2014 Canada Cup in Saskatoon, helping Alberta to a fourth-place finish. Browne accumulated 141 receiving yards in addition to 188 rushing yards on 41 attempts, averaging more than 6 yards per carry. This fall, Myles helped the Notre Dame Pride to a 34-14 Alberta provincial finals win over Harry Ainlay. Browne is committed to Concordia University in Montreal.
• Jevante Stanley, RB, Brampton Bulldogs, Brampton, Ontario – Stanley led the 2014 Canada Cup in rushing with 455 yards on 33 attempts (13.8 average), helping Team Ontario to the national title. He scored three touchdowns during the three game national championships in Saskatoon.
• Samuel Makawanda, RB, Loups de Curé-Antoine-Labelle, Laval, Quebec – Makawanda earned 2014 Canada Cup bronze medal game offensive MVP honors for Team Quebec in a 22-19 victory over Alberta. In the third-place contest, Makawanda rushed for 165 yards on 20 attempts, finishing the three-game tournament with 295 yards on 41 attempts. This fall, Makawanda also helped the Curé-Antoine Labelle Wolves to a Quebec high school provincial championship.
• Mason Bennett, DL , Vincent Massey Collegiate, Winnipeg, Manitoba – Bennett led the Winnipeg High School Football League in sacks with 14 and has 41½  tackles to his name. In 2014, he was awarded the WHSFL’s Kas Vidruk Memorial Award given to the down lineman who displays a high standard of playing ability, school citizenship and scholastic standing. The Vincent Massey Trojans standout has accepted a scholarship offer to play at the University of North Dakota.
• Samuel Lefebvre, OL, Cégep Lévis-Lauzon, Saint-Lauzon, Quebec – Lefebvre helped Team Quebec to a Canada Cup gold medal victory in 2013 and a bronze medal in 2014. Lefebvre will be making his second straight International Bowl appearance with Canada’s U-18 National Team after twice being named a Canada Cup all-star. This past season, Lefebvre was named the division 1 collégiale offensive lineman of the year in addition to being named to the league’s all-star team.
• Kade Belyk, WR, LeBoldus H.S., Regina, Saskatchewan – Belyk had an outstanding 2014 Canada Cup tournament, leading all receivers with 390 yards and three touchdowns on 21 receptions. This past fall, Belyk led his high school to its third consecutive 4A provincial title. Belyk caught three touchdown passes in the provincial finals win over Holy Cross, adding a pair of TD passes in the Regina city final. Belyk is committed to the University of Guelph in southwestern Ontario.

Read more about Team Canada here.

Team Canada roster – click here

Last year

In their inaugural U-18 game in 2014 Canada defeated Team USA 54-9 while the Americans evened the score with a win in the U-19 game.

Watch the game

The 2015 International Bowl games will be webstreamed live from Arlington, Texas. The webstream can be accessed on gameday by visiting www.footballcanada.com.

Follow the conversation

Use the hashtag #IB2015 to follow the conversation on social media. Those that use #IB2015 on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram may be featured on http://www.usafootball.com/IB2015. /

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased at the following link:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2015-international-bowl-us-national-team-vs-canadian-national-team-tickets-13633663655

Schedule