GW alumnus David Wilson leads Team USA to gold

George Washington High graduate and incoming Virginia Tech running back David Wilson helped lead the United States to a 41-3 victory against Canada in the championship game of the inaugural International Federation of American Football Junior World Championship tournament Sunday at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

Wilson rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and caught three passes for 27 yards against Canada. In the three tournament games, he racked up 414 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 33 carries and also caught four passes for 52 yards.

The U.S. outgained top-seeded Canada 440 yards to 49. The American defense did not allow a touchdown in three tournament games, limiting its opponents to a combined 91 yards of offense.

“It’s indescribable,” Wilson said in a telephone interview with the Danville Register & Bee on Friday. “It’s not too many times you get to represent your country playing the game you love. Any time you get to display your talent in a world arena, it’s great.”

The 5-foot-10, 192-pound running back rushed for 327 yards and seven touchdowns on 23 carries in Team USA’s two previous victories at the tournament, a 78-0 stomping of France and 55-0 victory against Mexico.

Wilson rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries against Mexico on Wednesday, including a long run of 50 yards that he broke for a touchdown on the first offensive play of the game. He also had one catch for 25 yards as the U.S. outgained Mexico 433 yards to 35.

Wilson racked up four touchdowns and 181 yards on 12 carries against France on June 27, when he received the pre-game honor of carrying the American flag onto the field. He had a long run of 60 yards against France, which the U.S. outgained 610 yards to 7.

Wilson is ranked by Rivals.com as the fourth-best running back in the country and the 40th-best prospect overall. He’s received numerous honors during his prep career, including being named the 2008 Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year, and is also the two-time defending Nike Indoor National triple jump champion.

Wilson rushed for 2,291 yards and scored 35 touchdowns while setting single-season and single-game rushing records during his senior season at GW.

He was one of two Virginia Tech recruits on Team USA’s roster, joining linebacker Tariq Edwards.

Japan defeated Mexico 42-27 in the bronze medal game Saturday.