Sports
Durham Smtythe named to All-tournament team
Sunday, 22 July 2012 by Chuck Kelly
Durham Smythe was named to U.S. Under-19 All-tournament team at the World Championship tournament held in Austin. Pictured Smythe scoring a touchdown against A&M Consolidated in a win that improved Belton’s record to 8-2. Photo by David TumaBelton Tiger senior-to-be Durham Smythe is one of only nine members of the U.S. Under-19 National Football Team to be selected to the International Federation of American Football Under-19 World Championship All-Tournament team.
This honor came on the heels of a disappointing 23-17 loss by United States to Team Canada in the Gold Medal title game last Saturday night at Burger Stadium in Austin. The tournament featured eight national teams from four continents --- American Samoa, Austria, Canada, France, Japan, Panama, Sweden and the United States.
Team USA had won the inaugural IFAF Under-19 World Championship in 2009 in Canton, Ohio.
Smythe, a 6-6, 230 pound tight end who has already verbally committed to attend the University of Texas, caught seven passes for 55 yards during the course of three games. He was instrumental in the USA's domination of their opponents in the opening two games of the eight nation tournament by a combined score of 97-13.
In the championship showdown, Canada, the tournament's second-seeded team, jumped out to a 10-0 lead that it never relinquished and went on to stun top-seeded USA.
A 59-yard punt return for a score and a 21-yard field goal gave Canada the early lead. The field goal was set up by an interception by Team Canada's Kevin McGee, who earned the team's MVP award.
USA scored on a five-yard pass play with less than five minutes to play in the first half.
Canada increased its advantage to 16-7 on the opening series of the third quarter with a 26 yards screen pass and run for the TD.
Team USA answered on its next drive, moving the football 78 yards on 11 plays before a complete pass from 12 yards out trimmed the Canada lead to 16-14.
Canada extended its lead back to two possessions midway thru the fourth quarter with a 64-yard drive to run the score to 23-14.
USA drilled a 43-yard field goal to cut the lead to 23-17 with 1:47 to go.
Canada ran out the clock for the victory.
Earlier in the day, Japan defeated Austria 7-0 to take the bronze medal.
"The kids played their hearts out," the USA coach commented. "I'm proud of these young men. I hope they don't put the destination ahead of the journey. They made friends for a lifetime here these two weeks. That outweighs any game."
