International Bowl IX kicks off from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday. The four-game set concludes with the U.S. Under-19 Select Team vs. Team Nordic at 8 p.m. Central Time.

U.S. players to watch in that contest include quarterback Jeff Miller of Murrieta Mesa (California) High School, wide receiver Tre Hart of Chandler (Arizona) High School, running back Alec Meza of Santa Cruz Valley Union (Arizona) High School, safety DJ Stirgus of Benton (Arkansas) High School and linebacker Kobi Thomas of DeMatha Cathloic (Maryland) High School.

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Georgetown University wide receivers coach Adam Neugebauer is head coach of the U.S. squad.

“I’m very impressed with the chemistry the team has built, which is hard to do in a week. The coaching staff we have is unbelievable, too,” Neugebauer said. “We want to run plays and schemes that match our strengths, so we're busy figuring that out.”

Missouri Valley College receivers/special teams coach and Select offensive coordinator Blaise Holzer will run mostly out of the spread formation, and wants to keep things simple. He’s thoroughly enjoyed the group this week.

“They’re from all over, it’s eclectic in terms of personalities and very well-selected,” Holzer said. “We have a lot of guys with speed, and that’s a lot of fun to have. Most importantly, they’re hungry to learn and they're really excited to work hard.”

Pacific University and Select defensive coordinator Lukkes Gilgan also plans to keep things fairly basic, to let the unit play fast and instinctive. Each day has been a tryout of sorts.

“Every guy here has earned the right to be on that field, but the first group you see out there will have earned that right as well,” Gilgan said. “We compete in practice, ask our guys to do a lot in terms of effort, so the guys giving the best will be the first ones out there.”

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The Nordic squad is led by 77-year old Jim Criner, who has a résumé like no other. Per American Football International, after five different assistant coaching stops, Criner compiled a 76-46-3 record at Boise State and Iowa State from 1976-86, including a I-AA title at Boise in 1980. He won World Bowl IV as head coach of NFL Europe’s Scottish Claymores in 1996, led the Las Vegas Outlaws in the XFL’s lone season in 2001 and spent five years as a scout for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Criner now delivers his football knowledge around the world. His American Football Coaching and Teaching Academy hosts coaching clinics and player camps in Europe and China.

Friday’s other games include:

U.S. Under-14 Stars vs. U.S. Under-14 Stripes, 9:30 a.m. CT

• U.S. Players to Watch: (Stars) QB Ezekiel Anderson, RB Carson Green, WR Peyton Woodyard, OL Darnell Sapp, DL Bobby Piland; (Stripes) QB Jake Strong, RB Andre Craig, OL Tapuloa Tusi, OL Stian Andreassen, WR Miles Massengill

 

U.S. Under-17 Stars vs. Football Ontario, 1 p.m. CT

• U.S. Players to Watch: LB Angelo Marchiol, WR LaMarco Yates, TE Hayden Hagler, DT Wesley Neal Jr., DB Shilo Means

 

U.S. Under-18 Select vs. UANL – Mexico, 4:30 p.m. CT

• U.S. Players to Watch: QB Braden Glason, LB Matt Williams, DB Mason Setness, QB Chayil Garnett, WR Thomas Williams III