Head coach: Pooch Taase
American Samoa makes its debut at the IFAF Under-19 World Championship as the sole Oceania representative. One of the smallest countries in IFAF, American Samoa has produced more NFL players per capita than any U.S. state, with 30 NFL players among its population of 55,519.American Samoa beat Australia, 93-7, in a torrential downpour to win the 2012 Oceania Bowl and qualify for a spot in Austin. Running back and offensive MVP Faafouina Sitagata carried 12 times for 107 yards and three touchdowns in the rout that saw three inches of rainfall throughout the game. Nathaniel Tuamohelo had 99 yards and a touchdown as American Samoa ran for 359 yards as a team. Elliot Peters had three catches, all for touchdowns, while Shalom Luani scored on a punt return, interception return, 2-point run and kicked an extra point.
American Samoa Football Overview
American Samoa embraced American football during the 1960s when NFL games became available on television. The island of just 55,000 people has since produced more than 200 American Samoans who have played college football and 30 in the NFL, including Domata Peko of the Cincinnati Bengals and Jonathan Fanene of the New England Patriots.
The sport is played in six high schools in American Samoa, and the annual Samoa Bowl brings teams to compete on the island from Autralia, New Zealand and Hawaii.
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