The second of three days of gridiron competition at International Bowl IX takes place Wednesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with a four-game set that concludes with the U.S. Under-18 National Team versus Team Canada at 8 p.m. Central Time.

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The U.S. hopes to make it two wins in a row against its Canadian counterparts, after last year’s victory snapped an 0-6 start to the series.

“We’ve got a good group of kids, I’d say very business-like. We’ve moved at a pretty high pace in practice, and we’re happy with what we’ve seen,” said U.S. U-18 coach Matt Gegenheimer of Prior Lake (Minnesota) High School.

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“We’re playing a team that can play ball, and we’re preparing for a great football game. Being in the game last year, the first time we’ve beaten them at the U-18 level, that was a big deal. It really opened my eyes to the type of players they have.”

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The U.S. has plenty of high-level players as well, including:

Quarterback Justin Allen (5-10, 165; Leesburg, Virginia), who led Tuscarora High School to the Group 5A state championship game, with 2,549 yards and 22 touchdowns passing, and 692 yards and eight scores on the ground.

Junior year • VA state runner up
•3200 yards•30 touchdowns•
2nd team #allmet #DMV•D.C TOUCHDOWN CLUB•1st team all loco sports•different result in Hampton next year ‼️#Lil pic.twitter.com/DMiAZ2Gcyz

— Justin Allen (@jrallen005) January 11, 2018 

Wide receiver Treyton Welch (6-3, 195; Buffalo, Minnesota), who caught 55 passes for 926 yards and 11 TDs for Buffalo High School.

BREAKING NEWS: Don’t sleep on Minnesota boys. Glory to God. Canada better be ready for the team we got! @USNFT pic.twitter.com/nkVHZrUvg5

— Treyton welch (@welch_treyton) January 15, 2018 

Offensive lineman AJ DeSantis (6-4, 287; Endwell, New Jersey), a mobile and versatile talent who has started since his freshman year at Maine-Endwell High School.

Defensive back Darius Waddell (6-0, 160; Jacksonville, Arkansas), a quick, hard-hitting safety at Sylvan Hills High School who can also make magic happen with the ball in his hands.

And tight end Colten Curry (6-7, 220; Valier, Montana), a towering 6-man football star from Valier High School, who’ll play at Montana.

Join @Coach_Hauck in welcoming Colten Curry from Valier, MT, to the team - a man with #GrizFB in his blood!#GoGriz#RTD#MTHeavy pic.twitter.com/CKnVOBBtyg

— Montana Griz FB (@MontanaGrizFB) December 20, 2017

Wednesday’s other games:

U.S. Under-15 Stars vs. U.S. Under-15 Stripes, 9:30 a.m. CT

U.S. Players to Watch: Stars: RB Devin Newton (Indianapolis), DB Derrick Barksdale II (Rock Hill, South Carolina), OL Jayden Bass (Springfield, Massachusetts), QB Cameron Davis (Horn Lake, Mississippi), WR Jacobie Henderson (Fort Mill, South Carolina); Stripes: OL Jackson Newville (Allen, Texas), DB Gavin Sawchuck (Aurora, Colorado), RB Aladio Thompson Jr. (Torrington, Connecticut), QB Jeremy Duran (Mission, Texas), LB Nicholas Giambalvo (Allen, Texas)

U.S. Under-15 Select vs. Laguna Select (Mexico), 1 p.m. CT

U.S. Players to Watch: DB Bryce Anderson (Beaumont, Texas), RB Arlen Harris Jr. (Valrico, Florida), LB Keegon Manning (Prosper, Texas), DL Jarius Satele (Carson, California), DL Jaydon Wannstedt (Lake St. Louis, Missouri)

U.S. Under-17 Stripes vs. Team Japan, 4:30 p.m. CT 

U.S. Players to Watch: RB Kalii Bradford (Richmond, Virginia), QB Blaine McAlister (Milton, Gerogia), QB Trillian Harris (Temecula, California), TE Donald Toner III (Blaine, Minnesota), LB Dallas Rogers (Papillion, Nebraska)

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