Claremore Daily Progress

Sports

July 12, 2012

Tahlequah Sequoyah QB Scott leads Team USA to silver medal

KOLBY PAXTON Tahlequah Daily Press

TAHLEQUAH — For most teenagers, the dog days of summer are an opportunity to kick back and enjoy the lack of responsibility that accompanies the presence of excessive sunshine, bodies of water, and a schedule void of school-related inconveniences.

For Tahlequah-Sequoyah quarterback Brayden Scott, nothing could be farther from reality.

The top signal caller in the state, and the No. 25 pro-style quarterback in the country according to Rivals.com, has been far removed from those lazy days of history class and track practice.

Scott has participated in Elite 11 camps in Atlanta and Las Vegas, visited Florida State, Nebraska, Iowa State, Houston and Memphis, and recently spent two weeks in Austin, Texas playing for Team USA in the International Federation of American Football Under-19 World Championships.

Before captaining his country in a global game of pigskin, however, the prep standout had something to get off of his chest. One week prior to Team USA’s opening round tilt versus American Samoa, Scott – who has fielded offers from Alabama, Arkansas and Arizona, among others – committed to the Memphis Tigers.

“I felt more comfortable with Memphis than any other school,” said Scott. “They have a great staff and great coaches. Big things are going on over there, with new facilities, a new stadium, new weight room. There’s a lot of things coming. I want to be a part of something that’s up and coming. I want to be the face of the program.”

With that in mind, Scott first had to serve as the face of USA Football – an experience that he relished.

“I could write a book about all of the things that we did and all of the people that I met,” he said.

“The bonds that I formed with my teammates down there, we’ll never forget. I still haven’t stopped talking to those guys since we left. It’s kind of funny, when it was all said and done, we all wanted to go to the same college and play ball together.

Team USA kicked things off with a 27-6 route of American Samoa in the night cap, during which Scott completed 13-of-20 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown. A few days later, he celebrated Independence Day by posting 129 passing yards and four scores, earning MVP honors in a 70-7 dismantling of Austria.

“It was fun representing my country and having ‘USA’ across my chest,” said Scott. “Playing on the Fourth of July, on America’s birthday, in that jersey, was very special. I was the only Native American on the team, as well, so I got to represent my Native American heritage at the same time.”

In the title game, Scott tossed two more touchdowns, but also threw his only two interceptions of the tournament, in an upset loss to Canada.

“The speed of the game was 10 times faster than what I’m used to,” he said. “It helped me. I can bring that speed to Sequoyah.”

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