3 Huskies picked for national team

Three Pawhuska High School football players have been selected to participate in an international game next month at “Jerry World,” the stadium in Arlington, Texas, that is home to the Dallas Cowboys, Pawhuska High School head coach Matt Hennesy said this week.

The three players selected are Jack Long, who will participate as an outside linebacker; Bryce Drummond, who will join the team as an inside linebacker; and Dalton Hurd, who will be a defensive back.

The young men have been selected to USA Football’s Under-16 National Team, Hennesy said. He is a regional director for USA Football and has been involved with the organization for about six years.

Hennesy said Long and Hurd were selected based on tryouts, while Drummond was selected based on game film of him. The U-16 team is for youth ages 16 and under, he said, and it is the youngest team that USA Football puts together.

Long is 15, Hurd is 14 and Drummond is 16.

The game in which the Pawhuska players will have a chance to compete is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, versus a team from Mexico.

“It’s tough. It’s not your typical all-star game,” Hennesy said, explaining there are no special rules outlawing blitzes or limiting the types of contact. “It’s straight football.”

The coach voiced pride in his players’ achievement.

“It’s a big honor. It kind of shows where our program is headed,” Hennesy said. The U16 team will have six practices and a scrimmage against their opponent before the all-star game is played, he said.

That excitement has translated to the players, as well.

“It’s a great opportunity to get experience and coaching from others,” Jack Long said.