Columbus' Merritt in high demand

Columbus coach Chris Merritt has been chosen to coach a couple of elite football teams in the near future.

Merritt found out this week he will be an assistant coach on USA Football's Junior National Team. Merritt will be on charge of the defensive backs.

The head coach of Team USA, America's first national team in football composed of high school-age players, is Cleveland St. Ignatius High head coach Chuck Kyle.

''Having the opportunity to compete again on the international stage, for me, is exciting, and representing our country definitely makes it an honor,'' Merritt said.

Merritt also was selected recently to coach the Miami-Dade County All-Stars in the South Florida All-Star Game Jan. 16 at 8:15 p.m. at Traz Powell Stadium.

Team USA will compete in the 2009 International Federation of American Football Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio, June 27-July 9, 2009.

The tournament will be composed of eight teams from four continents.

The roster will be selected by next spring.

Merritt, whose team opened the regular season Friday night against Palmetto, coached in the European and German football leagues for three seasons. At Columbus, he has led the Explorers to five district championships and two undefeated regular seasons.

BTW'S MOISE LIKELY

TO PLAY SATURDAY

Booker T. Washington held its final practice Friday in preparation for Saturday's 1 p.m. game against Warner Robins (Ga.) Northside.

The Tornadoes worked out at McConnell-Talbert Stadium, which expects a capacity crowd of 10,000 for Saturday's game.

Booker T. expects to have senior quarterback Torrance Moise back in their lineup. Moise, who sustained a high ankle sprain last week, stretched Friday but did not practice.

Moise completed 13 of 16 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns in last week's preseason loss to Chandler Hamilton (Ariz.). Northside is ranked No. 22 nationally by USA Today.

Booker T. will play a nationally ranked opponent in its regular-season opener for the second consecutive season.

Last season, the Tornadoes beat Summerville in South Carolina, 36-3.

-- ANDRE FERNANDEZ

AND J.T. WILCOX

 

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