November 24, 2003
(Information in this release courtesy of Todd Bell, AFCA)

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . Cornell College wide receiver Matt Ditch (Center Point, Iowa/Center Point-Urbana HS), Simpson College quarterback/punter Mike Donnenwerth (Sheffield, Iowa/SCMT HS) and Wartburg College cornerback/wide receiver Cody Kelley (Tipton, Iowa/Tipton HS) have been selected to play for the American Football Coaches Association’s (AFCA) Division III all-star team that will represent the United States against the Mexican National Team in the 2003 Aztec Bowl on December 13 in Cancun, Mexico.

Ditch, a two-time First Team All-Conference selection, caught 58 passes for 880 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also played some cornerback for Cornell this season and in one game intercepted three passes, returning two for touchdowns.

Donnenwerth was the Most Valuable Player in the Iowa Conference this season and earned all-conference honors at quarterback and punter for the Storm. He ended his career as Simpson's all-time leading passer. As a punter, Donnenwerth averaged 42.7 yards per punt in the 2003 regular season.

Kelley, a two-time All-Conference selection for the Knights, posted 23 tackles and six interceptions this season and also finished as Wartburg's second-leading receiver, catching 42 passes for 651 and nine touchdowns.

Ditch, Donnenwerth and Kelley are among the 42 NCAA Division III seniors from around the country that will make up this year’s team. Former Central College Head Coach Ron Schipper will coach the team for the seventh consecutive year.

This year's game is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. (CST) on December 13 at Estadio Cancun 86 in Cancun. The Aztec Bowl is the traditional season-ending game for Mexico's college football season. The game has been played 29 times since 1947 with the last six contests featuring the United States-Mexico match-up. In their first six meetings, the United States defeated Mexico, 15-9 in 2002 in Torreon, 37-5 in 2001 in Saltillo, 27-26 in 2000 in Merida, 44-13 in 1999 in Mexico City, 40-13 in 1998 in Monterrey, and 42-41 in 1997 in Toluca.

Chitwood Sports Media of Jefferson, Texas will again provide a live webcast of the Aztec Bowl in 2003. Along with the game webcast, which will begin with a pregame show on December 13, announcers Charlie Chitwood and Ned Fratangelo will provide 90-minute preview shows on December 10, 11 and 12. The preview shows will originate from the Team USA hotel and will begin each night at 6:30 p.m. CST.

The preview shows and game webcast can all be accessed via the AFCA's website at www.afca.com, via the Aztec Bowl website at www.aztecbowl.com, via the Texas Sports Radio Network at www.tsrnsports.com or at www.d3football.com. Postgame results will also be available at www.afca.com.

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