December
1, 2006
Release courtesy of Todd Bell, American Football Coaches Association;
Larry Happel, Central College sports information director, Paul
Misner, Univ. of Dubuque sports information director; Dave Blanchard,
Luther College sports information director
CEDAR
RAPIDS , IOWA . . . Central College defensive back
Ben Bollard (Pella, Iowa/Pella), University
of Dubuque all-purpose player Walner Belleus
(Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee) and Luther College wide receiver
Kyle Pearson (Flagstaff, Ariz./Sinagua) 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 2006 Aztec Bowl
on December 16 in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Bollard
was a first-team All-Iowa Conference pick. He was Central’s
second-leading tackler with 74. Bollard made three interceptions,
had a team-high six pass breakups and had one fumble recovery.
He helped Central post a 10-0 regular-season record to win a
share of the team’s second straight league championship
and a record-tying 18th NCAA Division III playoff berth. The
Central defense closed the regular season ranking ninth in Division
III in scoring defense (9.9 points allowed per game) and first
in turnover margin (plus 19).
Belleus
was a first team All-Iowa Conference selection at wide receiver
and return specialist and a second team selection at defensive
back this season. He led the Spartans this fall with 54 catches
for 648 yards, had 14 kick off returns for 368 yards, and 21
punt returns for 322 yards. Defensively, Belleus finished the
season with 25 solo tackles, 16 assisted tackles, one forced
fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception return for
22 yards.
Pearson
was a first team All-Iowa Conference selection this season.
He finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in receiving in
Division III with an average of 106.8 yards per game.
Central
assistant coach Don De Waard will serve as
an assistant coach for the U.S. Team. He recently finished his
24th year as linebacker coach and defensive coordinator at Central
and is making his fourth coaching appearance at the Aztec Bowl.
He is a 1982 Central graduate and former Dutchman player. In
2000, the American Football Coaches Association named DeWaard
the Division III Assistant Coach of the Year. He was honored
at the AFCA convention in Atlanta, Ga. in January, 2001.
Event
Information: This year’s game is scheduled to
kick off at 7 p.m. CST on December 16 at Estadio Victoria in
Aguascalientes.
The
Aztec Bowl is the traditional season-ending game for Mexico’s
college football season. The game has been played 35 times since
1947 with the last eight contests featuring the United States-Mexico
match-up. The United States is 8-1 in the series and defeated
Mexico, 53-15, in the 2005 game in Toluca.
Chitwood
Sports Media of Jefferson, Texas will again provide a live webcast
of the Aztec Bowl in 2006. Along with the game webcast on December
16, announcer Charlie Chitwood will provide 90-minute preview
shows on December 12, 13, 14 and 15 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 and via the Aztec Bowl website at www.aztecbowl.com.
Postgame results will also be available at www.afca.com.
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