TEAM BC DEFEATS TEAM USA 10-7

Team BC, British Columbia’s provincial under-15 tackle football team, defeated a team of USA 9th Graders by a final score 10-7 as part of USA Football’s International Bowl event on Friday, February 7, 2014 at Maverick Stadium at the University of Texas – Arlington.

“I still can’t believe this happened,” said Team BC head coach Peter McCall. “We were prepared, we were inspired and we were motivated. We just played unbelievably.

“We rose to the occasion. We got past all the hype of it being Team America and we showed that this was Team BC and that we have some of the best players in this age group playing for sure.”

QB Giordy Belfiore (Vancouver College Fighting Irish) went 8-for-12 in the air throwing for 108 yards and one touchdown and was named game MVP for Team BC in the victory.

“I couldn’t have done it without our defence and our O-Line,” said Belfiore after the game. “This experience was just a great opportunity.”

Belfiore led Team BC to a score on their opening drive of the game connecting with REC Tyler Moxin (North Delta Longhorns) in the end zone to put Team BC up 7-0 early following the convert.

The Americans would respond with a touchdown of their own just before half-time to even the score at 7-7.

That score would hold until late just shy of the halfway mark of the fourth quarter when LB Matteo Triggiano (Notre Dame Jugglers) blocked a USA punt allowing Team BC to recovery on the 10-yard line.

The turnover would ultimately lead to a field goal by RB Adam Turrin (Notre Dame Jugglers).

The Americans would have one final attempt to engineer a game-winning drive after getting the ball back with 68 seconds left in the contest but their last gasp attempt would be ended by DB Cole Theobald (Argyle Pipers) who picked off a pass to seal the deal for Team BC.

LB Cory Fletcher (Cowichan Reddogs) had a forced fumble late in the first half.

Friday’s game concluded an exciting three days of activity for Team BC which included an opportunity to take part in a jamboree at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, as well as tour the famed stadium which opened in 2009.