Montville - Montville High School's Kevin Murtha, a two-way lineman, has been selected to play in the prestigious International Bowl on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Murtha, a 6-foot-2, 279-pound junior captain, was one of 12 offensive lineman selected to play the United States 18-under team against a select team from Canada in the 90,000-seat home of the Dallas Cowboys. The team, under the guidance of head coach Claude Mathis of DeSoto High School in Texas, will practice in the Dallas area during the week leading up to the game.

"When I found out that I made it ... Oh my God, it's astounding," Murtha said following Montville's 40-19 win over Fitch on Friday. "You never really think you'd be able to do that. When we got the info packets in the mail before this all started, we were talking and like, 'How amazing would this be? The guys who make those teams, national teams, those kids are so good.' You just never think you would be part of something like this."

Murtha went to a regional tryout in Boston and made the cut for the developmental team, which then played in Maryland. He was named one of the captains on his team and started at left guard.

"I just wanted to play my heart out and see what could happen," he said. "After the games, one of the coaches told me he was going to really push for me to make the national team. I just really still can't believe it. It's awesome."

His Montville teammates and coaches believe it is well-deserved.

"One thing I can tell you about Kevin," said quarterback Tyler Quidgeon, "is that when we come out of the tunnel onto the field, I know I am going to get everything he has to give every single time. That's all you can ask for from your teammate."

Said coach Tanner Grove: "It is just a great accomplishment. He's a young man who has worked really, really hard. It's a testament to him and his family because it is a lot of time, money, and resources. We really hope he can go down there and excel, but to get to this point is really incredible and we are very proud of him."