US prep stars beat team of international players 17-0 in exhibition

US prep stars beat world team 17-0 in exhibition

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Mark Myers completed 7 of 10 passes for 79 yards and directed a key second-half touchdown drive to give the United States team of high school stars a 17-0 win over the World team on Saturday.

UCF commit Josh Reese’s 50-yard catch from Myers set up a touchdown just before halftime, and Ethan Grant (TCU) and Dontae Williams (Oregon) scored on short runs and Ben Hopfinger kicked a 40-yard field goal.

The game featured 45 top U.S. high-school seniors against a squad of under-20 players from outside the United States. Eight countries were represented, with Canada supplying 32 of the 45 World players.

“You could see our team start to come together in the second quarter,” said Myers, a senior at Cleveland’s St. Ignatius High School who has committed to Pittsburgh.

Tyler Smith (Maryland) was 5 for 10 for 105 yards. Jakhari Gore (LSU) led the U.S. with 53 rushing yards.

Sweden’s Hampus Hellermark rushed for 59 yards to lead the World team, which lost two top performers in the opening half. Linebacker Jesse Williams (Australia) left the game on the first series with a suspected groin injury; fullback James Sifakis (Canada) spent the second half on the sideline with his left arm in a sling.

“We were one drive and one big play away from being successful in this game,” World coach Jan Jenmert of Sweden said. “I think we should be proud, even though it was a defeat.”

The rest of the World team players came from Sweden, Japan, American Samoa, France, Germany and Mexico.