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IFAF U19 World Championship: U.S. National Team puts clamps on Australia in 38-0 victory

By Adam Wire | Posted 7/14/2018

(From left) Alec Meza, Ezekiel Ennis, Ali Jennings and Stone Snyder stand with the American flag on the field before the start of Saturday's IFAF U19 World Championship opening game against Australia. The U.S. won, 38-0.

The U.S. National Team collected six sacks and didn't allow a conventional first down until late in the fourth quarter en route to a 38-0 victory over Australia on Saturday in the International Federation of American Football U19 World Championship at Mexico City's Olympic Stadium.

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Ezekiel Ennis (No. 5) leads the U.S. National Team onto the field before the start of Saturday's game in the IFAF U19 World Championship vs. Australia at Mexico City's Olympic Stadium. The U.S. won, 38-0.

The U.S., which is trying to reclaim the gold medal after Canada won the 2016 event at Harbin, China, will face Mexico at 5 p.m. EDT (4 p.m. Mexico City time) Wednesday. Mexico defeated Japan on Saturday, 31-14.

RELATED CONTENT: IFAF U-19 World Championships: U.S. National Team roster, game times, broadcast information

The only first downs the U.S. defense allowed Australia before its final possession came via penalty or special teams plays. Australia gained one first down on a fake punt and another on a fumbled punt return.

Meanwhile, the offense took full advantage. Quarterback Alek Jacobs, an Augustana (Illinois) sophomore and Rock Island (Illinois) High School graduate, ran for two touchdown passes and threw for another, all in the first half. Jake O'Donnell (James Madison University) played most of the second half, and scored the U.S.'s final touchdown on a 1-yard run with 3:34 to play.

Andrew Onepunuka (Phoenix Trophy Prep High School) collected two of the U.S. team's six sacks, while Richard D'Abreu (Thomas Dale, Virginia High School) had 1.5 sacks. Stone Snyder (Monacan, Virginia High School) and Immanuel Hickman (Matoaca, Virginia High School) each had a sack as well.

The National Team scored on four of its first five possessions to build a 30-0 lead with 9:10 remaining in the third quarter. The defense didn't allow a first down that didn't involve a penalty until Australia pulled off a successful fake punt with 2:35 left in the third period.

RELATED CONTENT: U.S. National Team players to watch at IFAF U-19 World Championships

Three fourth-down conversions set up each of the National Team's first two touchdowns. Jacobs ran for a first down on fourth-and-11 on a fake punt, which lead to the first U.S. TD, while a Treshaun Ward run and reception, both on fourth down, kept a drive alive that enabled the second U.S. score. 

SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
USA — Ali Jennings 1 pass from Alek Jacobs (Chaise Ellis run), 6:59
Second quarter
USA — Jacobs 2 run (Jennings pass from Jacobs), 10:43
USA — Jacobs 9 run (run failed), 1:00
Third quarter
USA — Treshaun Ward 8 run (Jennings pass from Jacobs), 9:10
Fourth quarter
USA — Jake O'Donnell 1 run (Ellis run), 3:34

RELATED CONTENT: Meet the U.S. National Team opponents at the IFAF U-19 World Championship

Here's a look at some of the in-game and post-game reaction:

Follow IFAF on @IFAFMedia on Twitter and Instagram

TagsBlog National Team IFAF U-19 World Championship Fan/enthusiast
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