Team USA dominates CanAm Bowl XXV

Football championship features six-a-side high school players from Canada and the United States

By WAYNE SHIELS, Courtesy Clark’s Crossing Gazette

Team USA took the opening kickoff to the house and didn’t slow down all game, defeating Team Canada 84-16 in CanAm Bowl XXV held in Hanna, Alberta on July 8.

The visitors took advantage of good blocking and sheer speed to score numerous long touchdowns, mainly on the ground. They also used that speed to keep constant pressure on defence.

Despite the difference on the scoreboard Canada did have a number of positive plays.

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Aberdeen’s Trevor Regush scored Canada’s first touchdown on a nice catch and run play, waiting for his block to set up and then sprinting 40 plus yards to make the score 22-8 before the end of the first quarter.

Canada’s other touchdown came in the second half on a one yard quarterback keeper by Biggar’s Hayden McMahon.

Aberdeen’s Ty Holmes hauled in a number of passes both over the middle and along the sidelines. Hague’s Ryder Bergen made a great interception near his goal line on a long USA pass attempt.

Team Canada had been selected after the Border Bowl held in June. The team was comprised of players from Saskatchewan and Alberta including:

Quarterbacks Hayden McMahon (Biggar), Kade Thomas (Watrous); Running backs Trevor Regush (Wakaw), Connor Flahr (Raymore), Aiden Was  (Edson,AB),  Aaron Mills (Vegreville,AB); Tight ends Ty Holmes (Wakaw), Levi Hare (Birch Hills), Michael Berechailo (Wakaw), Breyden Thorimbert (Breton,AB); Centres Jordan Trischuk-Hounjet (Wakaw), Hayden Scheerschmidt (Hanna, AB); Defensive backs Daylon Lafreniere (Hafford), Ryder Bergen (Hague), Ryan Grey (Carrot River), Orrin Blackmore (Breton, AB); Linebackers Gavin Brady (Hanna, AB), Carter Burton (Hafford), Cade Friesen (Big River), Pacen Bowman (Edson, AB); Defensive ends Ryan Reding (Hanna,AB), Spencer McMillan (Hanna, AB), Jaxon Anderson (Camrose), Bradley Rodin (Camrose, AB). They had met in Hanna on July 4 to prepare. 

Team USA was composed of the best 6-man players from Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Texas and Wyoming. The team had gathered in Lambert, Montana for practices on July 3, and prepared with two-a-day practices through July 6, before heading to Alberta on July 7.

It was their second CanAm win in a row; they had defeated Canada 71-30 in CanAm XXIV last year in Lambert, Montana. This game had renewed the rivalry after a two -ear hiatus due to Covid. The last time the game was played in Canada was 2019 when Team Canada won 40-28.

For some players this marks the end of their football careers, while others will be moving on to play at the junior or university level. For all the chance to represent their country playing the sport they love will be a life-long memory.

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