International Bowl 2010-A Recap

International Bowl 2010-A Recap
By David Macbeath of Macbeath Sports Media-Special Contributor to Football Reporters Online

This past Sunday January 2nd The 4th annual International Bowl took place at The Rogers Centre (formerly the Skydome) in Toronto Ontario.  This years edition of the game featured The University of South Florida Bulls representing the Big East and The MAC Champion Northern Illinois Huskies.  Now USF who came into the game with an 8-5 record were taking part in their 5th Bowl game in a row (2-2 in previous 4 and having won The St Petersburg Bowl in 2009) would be going for their 2nd Bowl victory in a row as they took on 7-6 NIU for the International Bowl trophy.

Now the first half of the game was a defensive battle as USF were held to a total of -3 yards rushing and 98 yards passing for a total of 95 yards total offense while NIU faired a little better with 40 yards rushing and 101 yards through the air for a total of 141 yards total offense.  The entire scoring for the half came from a 39 yd field goal by Eric Schwartz following a 6 play 27 yd drive which ate 2:36 and a 21 yd field goal by Mike Salerno following a 3:55 minute drive to tie the score at the half 3-3. 

The second half was a different story as JR Running Back Mike Ford rushed for 189 yds. and 1 Touchdown on 19 carries for a game total of 20 carries for 207 yds. on the ground becoming only the third RB to rush for 200+ yds. in a game along with Ray Rice of Rutgers (Now with Baltimore) who rushed for 280 yds. in 2008 and Donald Brown of Connecticut (now with Indianapolis) who rushed for 261 yds. in his final NCAA game last year.  Ford also set an International Bowl record for rushing average with a 10.7 yd per carry avereage and was named game MVP.

Also major contributors were QB B.J. Daniels who had a good day going 14 of 22 for 217 and 2 TDs with 0 INTs and was sacked 5 times and WR A>J> Love a 6'3" JR who caught 3 balls for 56 yds and 2 TDs as USF won 27-3.  Now USF wasn't just strong on offense they were good on defense as well with SR CB Jerome Murphy picking up one fumble for 13 yds. and also added an INT return of 23 yds. along with 6 tackles (2 solo and 4 assists) leading the way as The Bulls held NIU to 108 yds. rushing and 130 yds. passing for 238 total yds. and only 3 points in the game. 

Leading the way for NIU was JR RB Chad Spann who rushed for 96 yds. while adding another 30 yds. through the air for 126 yds. on the day.  Husky QB Chandler Harnish went 12 of 25 for130 yds. and no TDs with one INT.  Rounding out the scoring  was Eric Schwartz who hit on field goals of 39 and 19 yds. plus added 3 PATs for a total of 9 points as The USF Bulls defeated The NIU Huskies 27-3 in front of over 22,000 fans.

So I wrap this up by saying if you want to see great live NCAA Bowl action be sure and come to the 2011 International Bowl game to be played in January 2011.  I guarantee that the committee headed by Ken Hoffman and Don Loding will once again give you an event that all can enjoy from young to young at heart.  Check out my blog later today to see another story from the game on the teams that took part and the events around the game.  In the mean time follow and support your local teams be they youth or adult, Pro or amateur.  You'll be glad you did.