Martin leads U.S. rushing in win

Published 6:09 pm Monday, February 1, 2016

The News staff report

ARLINGTON — Wednesday will be Kameron Martin’s most important day of his football career to date.

But before that, the Port Arthur Memorial senior displayed his game on an international stage.

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Martin led all rushers, carrying six times for 33 yards in helping the U.S. Under-19 National Team beat the Canada Under-19 National Team 33-0 in the International Bowl on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. The performance helped Martin gain added exposure in the days leading up the National Signing Day, when he is expected to sign with Baylor on Wednesday.

Martin averaged 5.5 yards a carry with a long of 13 yards. He did not have a touchdown, but game MVP Dwayne Haskins and Nick Starkel each threw for two of them. Haskins, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, completed 12 of 16 passes for 154 yards, while Starkel of Argyle completed 8 of 14 for 76 yards.

The Americans outgained Canada 330-53 in total yards and totaled 16 first downs in the process. They closed the victory with Shurod Thompson’s 59-yard blocked field goal return with 4 seconds left. The U.S. took a 6-0 halftime lead after a scoreless first quarter.

Also Sunday, Canada’s Under-18s beat the U.S. Under-19 Select squad 31-13. Port Neches-Groves defensive lineman Nick Valentine was selected for that game, but did not record any statistics.

On Friday, PN-G coach Brandon Faircloth will lead the U.S. Under-17 team in its International Bowl game against the Ontario Under-17s in Arlington. Faircloth coached the 2014 U.S. Under-19 Nationals to a 43-7 win.

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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