Mike King helps Team Stars & Stripes to 29-7 victory over Mexico in 2013 Tazon de Estrellas

December 21, 2013

By Tim Glon

MONTERREY, Mexico -- Ohio Northern senior Mike King had a pair of tackles to help Team Stars & Stripes defeat Mexico 29-7 in the 2013 Tazon de Estrellas Saturday afternoon at Estadio Tecnological on the campus ot Tec de Monterrey.

"This was a wonderful week," King said. "Just a terrific experience. Some of the ONU players that had been in this game before told me that it would be worth it and they were right. I will remember this week for the rest of my life.

"The game was a blast. It was great competition and the Mexicans were really playing to win. Itv was a great way to wrap up my career. I've been able to play football in America, Ireland and now Mexico. Huge thanks to (ONU) head coach Dean Paul and the Ohio Northern coashing staff for a wonderful experience."

King helped anchor a defense that limited the Mexicans to 41 yards rushing and just 270 yards of total offense.

Luke Barthelmess of Lawrence (Wis.) was named the Team Stars & Stripes MVP, completing 11-of-16 passes for 1103 yards and rushing seven times for 49 yards and a touchdown.

Barthelmess led the Americans on long drives of 89 and 76 yards on its second and third possession of the game to take a 10-0 lead.

Barthelmess scored on a 9-yard run to cap a 12-play, 89-yard drive to give Stars & Stripes a 7-0 lead with 3:39 left in the opening period.

Dyna Rushe of Endicott (Mass.) nailed a 26-yard field goal to cap a 15-play, 76-yard drive and give TSS a 10-0 lead with 7:31 left in the first half.

Anthony Richie of Grove City (Pa.) caught a touchdown pass from wide receiver Brian Fleiss of St. Norbert (Wis.) with 4:28 left in the half to make it a 16-0 game.

The Mexicans got back into the game, marching 92 yards in seven plays, and pulled within 16-7 on a 14-yard TD pass from Norman Contia to Leopold Lara with 1:02 left in the half.

Late in the third period, Mexico drove to the American's 13-yard line, but Kevin Hwang of Grinnell (Iowa) intercepted the ball in the end zone to stop the threat and keep the lead at 16-7.

Stars and Stripes then put the game away, driving 80 yards in 14 plays for a touchdown. Juan Flores of Cornell (Iowa) hit Samuel Larioza of Kalamazoo (Mich.) on a 11-yard pass and it was 23-7 with 10:17 left in the game.

After TSS forced a 3-and-out, the Americans drove 83 yards in six plays for some insurance.

Nikko Sansone of DePauw (Ind.) busted free on a 55-yard run and capped the drive with a 10-yard run with 5:19 left in the game.

The Mexicans then drove to the TSS 6-yard line, but the defense held on fourth down as time expired to finish the game in convincing style.

Sansone ran 20 times for 129 yards and a TD as Team Stars & Stripes rolled up 451 yards of total offense and held the ball for 36:25.

The Americans are now 3-2 in the five Tazon de Estrellas and are 13-3 in games involving Global Football, which includes a 10-1 record in the Aztec Bowl from 1997-2007.