Two Sachse Mustangs, offensive lineman Kendall Pearson and defensive back Isaiah Humphries have been named to the U.S. Under-17 National Team. The team is made up of 59 of the nation’s best high school football players and will compete against Canada in the 2016 International Bowl on Friday, Feb. 5, at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is 1 p.m. CT. Games will be broadcast throughout the United States.
Four high school-aged U.S. National Teams will compete against national teams from Canada in the seventh International Bowl series. U.S. Select Teams at the high school and junior high level also will compete as part of the series.
All U.S. National Teams are assembled and managed by USA Football, which is recognized as the sport’s national governing body by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
The U.S. Under-17 head coach is Brandon Faircloth of Port Neches-Groves High School in Texas. Faircloth led the 2014 U.S. Under-19 National Team to a 43-7 win over Canada and has served in varying coaching capacities for the U.S. National Team program since 2011. Faircloth took over the Port Neches-Groves program in 2009 and led the team to a perfect 10-0 regular season record, becoming only the third coach to achieve that mark in the school’s history.
U.S. rosters and coaching staffs will be announced throughout November and December and available on www.internationalbowl.com. Canadian rosters will be announced in early 2016.
To be eligible for the Under-17 team, players must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1997.
The games are a collaboration of the sport’s national governing bodies in each country – USA Football and Football Canada – featuring top student-athletes in high school football’s greatest annual international competition.
The event will feature a week of practices and activities for each team, culminating in internationally sanctioned competitions.
“This is an exciting opportunity for these young men to represent their country on the field and learn from top coaches while working alongside the best athletes in their grade levels,” USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck said. “To play inside the same stadium as the Dallas Cowboys will make this a memorable experience for our coaches, athletes and their families.”
“This roster includes incredible talent, but it’s also centered on the characteristics that make up a true team, a national team,” Faircloth said. “Representing the United States is the highest honor an athlete can seek. Our coaches and players understand this. We will prepare to play our best and make our teammates, families, hometowns and country proud.”