NFL Academy upends Princeton’s Hun School in Global Ireland Football Tournament opener

The NFL Academy battled their way to a 34-21 victory over the Hun School of Princeton in a thrilling opening game of the 2025 Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) games at Engergia Park in Dublin.

The UK-based squad that includes prospects from across Europe and Africa were led by Canadian quarterback Victor LaChambre who threw for three touchdowns in the win.

Running back Nathan Morris opened the scoring after both defenses had stifled their opponents’ opening drives and in an often bruising defensive encounter, Bobby Bridges tagged on the extra point to open an early 7-0 lead.

Hun’s positive reply included twice moving the chains on third down, but they had to settle for a field goal which Chad Trust converted off the upright. Their next drive was halted by a sack by Moritz Strempel and the NFL Academy took full advantage on their next possession.

LaChambre connected with receiver Felix Merrow for consecutive first downs and scrambled for a further ten yards himself before finding Seth Clarke wide open in the end zone for a 14-3 lead after Bridges had converted the PAT. After another defensive stop, NFL Academy were denied within striking distance of the end zone but a 19-yard Bridges field goal extended their lead to 14 points.

The Hun School might have dented that lead before halftime but came up just short. A double pass play edged them to within striking distance of the red zone, quarterback Lukas Prock and tight end Tommy Douglas connected twice to move the ball to the one-yard mark, but time expired after a failed pass attempt.

NFL Academy scored twice in the third quarter to effectively end the contest. LaChambre found tight end Luca Wolfe for a touchdown and having converted the extra point, Bridges split the uprights from 35 yards out for a 27-3 advantage.

Hun pulled back six points in the fourth quarter as Prock found Finbar Malloy for a touchdown, but NFL Academy tight end Devon Myrie raced 71 yards down the right sideline to the end zone in reply and open a 34-9 lead.

The Hun School made the scoreboard more respectable with an 11-yard Ryan Borgstrom touchdown and a pass from scrambling Prock to Brady Scheier late in the game.