Football News and Notes: Team USA, Pac-10 Media Day

Kevin Cummings and Jordan Poyer both participated in the Junior World Championship that took place over the last several days in Canton, Ohio. The tournament consisted of eight football teams from around the world-- they included Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden and the U.S.

The United States team steamrolled the competition, racking up a combined 174-3 score against France, Mexico, and Canada.

In the U.S.'s 78-0 victory over France on Saturday, Poyer blocked a punt in the endzone and nearly recovered it for a touchdown. The ball got out of the end zone and was ruled a safety. After the game, Poyer unleashed this quote, which should make OSU special teams coach Bruce Reed smile.

"Everything is put on special teams," Poyer said. "Special teams is what starts off the game; it could determine the winner of the game and the loser of the game.[Saturday] on special teams I thought we played really well.We didn't get to return kicks a whole lot, but special teams is where it's at."

Sounds like a college kid just having some fun in a 78-0 rout to me. Poyer, who comes to the Beavers out of Astoria High School, played quarterback and defensive back in high school. He'll fight for time at cornerback at Oregon State, but in the short term, he'll likely play on special teams. Sounds like he likes it, too. He also has experience"

"I played the position in high school too, coming off the edge and blocking the punt, and I've never blocked a punt before, so that was kind of cool. I wish I could have recovered it and got a touchdown, but I got a safety."

Cummings found the end zone in the third quarter of the championship game, when he was in the receiving end of a 47 yard touchdown pass from Baylor-bound Bryce Petty. It was his second reception of the game, and put the U.S. ahead 25-6.

The speed, strengh, and quickness of the U.S. team was just too much for the Canadians, and the rest of the field, for that matter, to handle:

"Speaking for the whole team, no one had seen a football team like that," said Canada linebacker Byron Perez-Archambault, who had eight solo tackles and two sacks.

Pac-10 Media Day is approaching on July 30, and the representatives from each school have been selected. Linebacker Keaton Kristick will represent the Beavers... Brandon Hughes did the honors last year.

--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)