How four Fort Worth-area football stars helped Team USA to gold at International Bowl
Ken Seals enrolled early at Vanderbilt and has been in Nashville for the past week, but the 4-star quarterback returned home Wednesday to play in his fifth and final International Bowl at AT&T Stadium.
Seals finishes 5-0 after the USA Under-19 National Team defeated Panama 67-0.
He’s the first player to win the event five times.
“Feels normal. Another expectation met and now it’s onto the next one,” he said. “Wait for the next guy to get six. I set the standard. Someone has to break it. That’s how it rolls.”
Seals started the game at QB and took a nice gain down to the 1 before team USA punched it in for the score. Seals finished with 33 yards rushing. He then connected with Arlington Lamar’s Trevon West, an Oklahoma signee, for a 55-yard TD and 19-0 lead in the first quarter.
Seals threw a 20-yard scoring pass to 3-star tight end Matthew Hibner (Burke, VA; Michigan signee) in the second quarter and a 71-yard TD to 4-star receiver JJ Hester (Tulsa, OK; Missouri signee) in the third.
The former Weatherford play-maker finished the day with 204 yards and 3 TDs on 6 of 8 passing.
“Every year is unique. Every team has its group of special players that make the experience great. I enjoyed being around the guys, that’s what was most memorable,” Seals said. “It’s going to help me at the next level and it’s a team full of talent that can go up against anyone.”
Seals was voted District 3-6A MVP and Fort Worth Star-Telegram first-team all-area after throwing for 3,060 yards and 33 TDs. He added 85 carries, 494 yards and seven TDs.
The Kangaroos went to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons with Seals — 2018 being the first trip since 2007. In two varsity seasons, Seals leaves Weatherford with multiple season and career records including most passing yards and TDs all-time.
Vandy bound
Seals graduated early and left for Vanderbilt on Jan. 3
“It’s been great. Classes are a lot different and that’s an adjustment, but just waiting for spring ball. Excited to get into that,” said Seals, who is ranked as the No. 23 pro-style QB in the nation by 247Sports.
Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason hired Todd Fitch to replace Gerry Gdowski as offensive coordinator earlier this month. Fitch was at Louisiana Tech last season, while the Commodores went 3-9 and 1-7 in the SEC East.
“Looks like there’s a pretty good chance at some playing time so I just have to continue to prepare myself for that opportunity,” said Seals.
Deuce Hogan
The Grapevine Faith senior quarterback and Iowa signee was named MVP after throwing for 191 yards and 3 TDs on 11 of 12 passing. He completed all seven attempts in the first half.
“It’s special. Lot of hard work coming to fruition,” said Hogan, who was playing in his first International Bowl. “Can’t thank the guys around me enough. So much talent, it wasn’t hard to get on the same page.”
Hogan and Hibner connected on a 19-yard TD pass in the first quarter to give USA a 13-0 lead. He would throw a 32-yard score to West just before intermission and a 19-yard TD to Trinity Cedar Hill’s Marques Buford Jr. midway through the third.
West finished with two catches, 87 yards and 2 TDs.
“O-line did a great job blocking for me, wide receivers and running backs did a great job getting open. Great offense and great defense,” Hogan said. “We were treated like royalty this week, awesome care, and I got to know a lot of guys that I’ll see at the next level.”
Iowa Hawkeye
Hogan had 12 offers, which included Georgia, Baylor and Oklahoma State, before committing in the summer of 2018. He’s ranked as the No. 17 pro-style QB in the nation by 247Sports.
“It was the incredible people and culture. Great coaches and pro-style offense, which you have to love,” said Hogan, who threw for 2,200 yards and 30 TDs this season. “They send a lot of guys onto the next level and that’s attractive.”
Hogan signed his letter of intent during the early signing period in December.
He finished his high school career with 8,100 yards passing and 100 TDs.
“Really pumped to get to Iowa. It’s been a long time coming and I feel like we’re one or two games away from really competing and winning the whole thing,” said Hogan of the Hawkeyes, who finished 10-3 and 6-3 in the Big Ten West. “Ready to get up there and be that thing that turns the next page.”
Myles Nash
The Fort Worth Southwest Christian 3-star running back was playing in his fourth International Bowl and won his third gold medal after finishing with 2 TD runs of 21 and 26 yards.
His 21-yard score came with 7:30 left in the second quarter to put USA up 26-0.
The 26-yard run was the game’s final score.
“It’s real fun being able to represent your country and come out here and show the world what you can do,” said Nash, who finished with 77 yards on five carries.
Nash, who added a 44-yard catch, transferred to Southwest Christian from Sachse in August. He was named to the TAPPS all-state team after rushing for 1,750 yards and 19 TDs for the Eagles.
Nash is the ranked as the No. 28 all-purpose back in the nation by 247Sports, but his recruiting has been quiet.
He remains hopeful he’ll land his feet somewhere.
“Just been waiting. It’s a waiting game until I get something under my belt,” Nash said. “I’m a hard worker and I’m going to come day in and day out and do what I need to get done, and I’m a team player.”
This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 5:41 PM.
