Three schools that will participate in the 2012 GIFT (Global Ireland Football Tournament) recorded playoff victories this past weekend as Loyola Academy advanced to their quarterfinals and Hamilton High School and Notre Dame Prep moved on to the second round.
Teams from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin will play in three doubleheader matches staged in three different stadiums in Dublin, making up the Global Ireland Football Tournament on Friday, August 31. The following day, the University of Notre Dame and U.S. Naval Academy clash at the city’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday, September 1.
Loyola Academy (11-0) from Wilmette, IL, shut-out Dunbar 29-0 in the Class 8A Illinois playoffs to earn a spot in the quarterfinals where the Ramblers will face Lyons.
Hamilton High School from Chandler, Arizona, defeated Valley Vista 37-7 and will now face Chandler High School in the Arizona Division I quarterfinals. Hamilton, who finished the regular season undefeated, beat Chandler 28-21 earlier this year.
Notre Dame Prep from Scottsdale, AZ, defeated Salpointe Catholic 33-14 in the first round of the DII AIA Arizona State Playoffs and will now face Ironwood Ridge on November 10.
Dallas Jesuit ended their regular season on a high note, defeating Sunset 40-12 to improve to 8-2 and will now face Sachse in the opening round of the Texas High School 5A Division II playoffs.
Father Judge from Philadelphia, PA, fell to La Salle College 26-16. Their final game of the season will be an annual Thanksgiving game on November 24 against Abraham Lincoln.
St. Norbert College clinched its 13th consecutive season with at least seven wins thanks to a 41-6 win against Lake Forest College in a Midwest Conference game. Future Dublin opponent John Carroll fell to Heidelberg University 41-28. The Blue Streaks will look to end the 2011 season on a positive note in their final game of the year against Baldwin-Wallace on Saturday, November 12.
Venues and kickoff times for all GIFT games, which are being organized in association with the Irish American Football Association, will be announced during the fall football season and details of the event and participating teams can be found at the website www.GIFT2012.com.
Organizer Global Football has been the world’s primary exporter and producer of American football played overseas since 1996, and never before has such a large number of U.S. teams traveled and played in one country, on one day. Being linked to the Fighting Irish and Midshipmen weekend makes this even more special for the players, coaches and followers who are eagerly preparing for this exciting historic week.
Former Notre Dame All-American and Green Bay Packers first round draft pick Mike McCoy will serve as an Honorary Chairman for the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) 2012.
McCoy is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Cathedral Prep High School. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Economics where he played football and was a Consensus All-American.
He was the UPI Lineman of the year and was sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting his senior year. He was the number one draft choice of the Green Bay Packers where he played defensive tackle during an 11-year NFL career, spending seven with Green Bay, two with the Oakland Raiders and two with the New York Giants.
For information about the Global Ireland Football Tournament 2012 please visit www.GIFT2012.com or email Patrick@GlobalFootball.com. All team and fan travel for GIFT is being expertly handled by Anthony Travel, who also manages all team and fan travel for the Notre Dame and Navy. Contact Sheldon Baxter, sheldonbaxter@anthonytravel.com for details, or visit www.anthonytravel.com/globalfootball/gift.
GIFT teams scores: November 4-5
Hamilton High School (Chandler, AZ):
Valley Vista 7 @ Hamilton 37
Next Week: 11/10 Home vs. Chandler (Playoffs)
Notre Dame Prep (Scottsdale, AZ):
Salpointe Catholic 14 Notre Dame Prep 33
Next Week: 11/10 @ Ironwood Ridge
Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks, CA):
Notre Dame 17 @ Bishop Amat 12
Next Week: 11/11 @ Alemany
Dallas Jesuit (Dallas, TX):
Dallas Jesuit 40 @ Sunset 12
Next Week: 11/10 @ Sachse (Playoffs)
Loyola Academy (Wilmette, IL):
Dunbar 0 @ Loyola Academy 29
Next Week: 11/10 Home vs. Lyons (Playoffs)
Father Judge (Philadelphia, PA):
Father Judge 16 @ La Salle College 26
Next Game: 11/24 @Abraham Lincoln
Kent School (Kent, CT):
Next Week: 11/12 @ Loomis Chaffee
John Carroll University:
JCU 28 @ Heidelberg University 41
Next Game: 11/12 @ Baldwin-Wallace
St. Norbert College:
SNC 41 @ Lake Forest College 6
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