A graduating Stanley-Boyd senior is heading out of the country this week to play in the Oaxa – ca Alliance Bowl at Oaxaca, Mexico, located just hours inland from the Pacific Ocean.

Mike Karlen Jr., soon to play football as a

Mike Karlen Jr.

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freshman at Northern Michigan University, is headed out this week for southern Mexico, in a one-time game opportunity with USA Football International. So how'd he get on the roster for the April 30 out of country game?

“Our kicker for the last game wasn’t going to be able to make this one," Stanley resident and USA Football International kicking and special teams coach Scott Hamilton said of the game against Team Oaxaca. With 30 years of coaching experience including both high school, profession indoor, college, and NFL, Hamilton moved to Stanley a little over a year ago. See – ing Karlen play, Hamilton told the head coach for USA Football International, who gave the go ahead for the one game opportunity after seeing Karlen’s game tape.

Normally a high school senior like Karlen wouldn’t be eligible for the team, as the league looks for those 18 and older to help give them exposure. With the kicker not able to make it and Mike's distance better than any Hamilton had ever seen, the exception was made, for just one game.

"He'll be punting and kicking," Hamilton said of what Karlen would be doing in the April 30 game. "He's going to be a real weapon for us,” he went on. “We’re going to be able to put points on the board from 40 to 50 yards out." Once Karlen and USA Football International get back to the States, however, he's no longer eligible to play for the team.

“We don’t want to jeopardize his scholar- ship," Hamilton said, saying in addition that he wrote several letters to help Karlen get into the football program at Northern Michigan. “The coaches are excited to have him," Hamilton said of the upcoming fall season. As to Karlen’s future, Hamilton had the following to say.

“I think Mike’s got a really bright future ahead of him," he said. "He's going to be an inspiration to kids in the area. I'm excited to see what he does in college.”