USA III All Stars

Aztec Bowl

1997 Aztec Bowl

Saturday, December 12, 1997

TOLUCA, MEXICO --- The 50th Anniversary Aztec Bowl, featuring the USA Division III All-Stars vs the Mexico College All-Stars, was quite possibly the most exciting game ever in this historic contest, with the USA winning 42-41. When Allegheny College running back Jim Mormino, one of 16 All-Americans on the team, caught a 43-yard pass from Pomona-Pitzer quarterback Jack Ramirez with 1:26 remaining, it appeared the Americans has finally prevailed on this cool, blustery day in Toluca, a mountainside suburb of Mexico City. However, Mexican quarterback Enrique Villanueva had just enough time to work his magic as he had done throughout the final quarter, driving his team the length of the field, then throwing a 23-yard touchdown pass to Hector Cuervo. As 12,000 animated fans cheered on their underdog host team, the two-point conversion pass slipped just off the fingertips of the intended receiver, and U.S. coach Ron Schipper breathed a sigh of relief. His fatigued squad, with 35 players representing the same number of colleges, had valiantly held off the dramatic fourth quarter rally which saw the green-clad home team tally 26 points. The lack of oxygen in the 7,500 foot altitude of picturesque Chivo Cordoba Stadium had taken its toll on the defensive group especially, playing with only five defensive linemen. When the final statistics were totaled, each team had run 65 offensive plays. The American collegians were balanced with 241 yards on the ground and 198 through the air, with one fumble. Mexico relied heavily on the passing game, with 481 yards in the air with one interception, and only 57 on the ground. In the end, it was the perfect placekicking of Baldwin-Wallace's Chris Kondik, who was five-of-five field goals and converted three PATs. The U.S. offense began the game controlling the line of scrimmage, while its quick, attacking defense put pressure on the shotgun-oriented Mexican offense. On the initial drive, Kondik split the uprights from 49 yards after some effective traps and counters. The defense, led by John Carroll's linebacker London Fletcher with a team-leading nine tackles on the day, stuffed Mexico as they tried to establish its running game. After an exchange of punts and a disputed penalty, the red, white and blue were backed up to their own three-yard line. A simple pitch sweep right turned into a brilliant 97-yard scamper by Marietta runningback Dante Brown. Kondik's PAT made it 10-0 at the end of the quarter. Mexico, featuring 30 players from the national championship University of the Americas team, struck back quickly with a 68-yard TD pass from Villanueva to Carlos Rosado, to make the score 10-7. The rest of the first half was controlled by the offensive and defensive lines of the U.S. squad. A blocked punt led to a 13-yard touchdown run by U.S. runningback Shane Davis of Loras. But the snap was muffed on the PAT, keeping the score at 16-7. As the defense continued to thwart the Mexican offense, the quartet of American runningbacks moved the ball down the field twice more in the first half, but both drives stalled. Kondik converted field goals of 46 and 30 yards, and the hometown crowd voiced its displeasure as the score read 22-7 at halftime. The third quarter again demonstrated the speed and strength of the U.S. team, when Wisconsin-LaCrosse defensive back Ric Mathias, who also had the game's only interception, returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown to put the U.S. up 29-7. Villanueva stayed predominantly in the air in the ensuing drive, but a 12-yard draw play by Victor Fuentes accounted for Mexico's touchdown. The two-point conversion made it 29-15. Augsburg's Derrin Lamker, mixing up runs and passes, primarily to tight end Chuck Thorton of Ithaca and receiver Tory Langemo of Concordia-Moorhead, put the U.S. in field goal range again, and Kondik nailed another 49-yarder to put the Americans ahead 32-15. As the final period began, a cold north wind and the mistake-free play of Coach Schipper's team had quieted the crowd who had come expecting an upset. Mexican Coach Leonardo Lujan knew he had to make something happen, and fast. With the wind now at his back, and facing a fourth down on their own 30-yard line, Lujan called a fake punt which was executed perfectly for a 35-yard completion. After two precision passes, Villanueva scrambled for a seven-yard touchdown run. The score remained 32-21 after the PAT was missed. Mexico then recovered the ensuing onside kick and the U.S., with only four days of practice, found itself on defense again. Now the altitude, the lack of substitutes, as well as the deft scrambling of Villanueva, was beginning to take its toll. Runningback Victor Fuentes took a screen pass and rambled 40-yards for the score. The stadium erupted as two touchdowns had been scored within one minute! This time the two-point attempt was stymied by the dogged American defense and the score read 32-27. Jack Ramirez returned at quarterback for the U.S., aware that his offense had to give the defense some rest. Despite a nine-man front, the U.S. offensive line and gritty backs put together a solid drive, but couldn't get into the end zone. But Kondik again came to the rescue and converted his fifth field goal of the game from 30 yards out, and the U.S. led by eight, 35-27. On Mexico's next possession, Villanueva frustrated the U.S. defensive line, sidestepping them until he could find an open receiver. With 2:48 remaining, he found Jeronimo Huerta in the flat, who turned up field and ran the remaining distance for the 60-yard score. Mexico converted the two-point conversion to tie the score at 35-35 as the Mexican fans erupted. But the United States players, all of whom were playing their final collegiate game, had not come this far to let victory elude them. Again, mixing short passes with power sweeps and quick hitters, Ramirez led them down the field. Mexico was filling every gap, blitzing each play, giving their all to defeat this star-studded American team. Then, Mormino casually snared the Ramirez sideline pass and outran the secondary to the end zone for a 47 yard score. He was swarmed by his teammates and families on the sideline, as Kondik completed his perfect day with another PAT kick to put the U.S. in front 42-35. One last gasp; a final chance for Mexico, with a little over one minute to play. Villanueva hit a couple of short passes, using the clock wisely. The U.S. defensive backs kept running up and down the field, with no substitutes available, as Mexico kept sending waves of fresh receivers in with each play. Finally, third and 10 from the 22, with only nine seconds left to play, Hector Cuervo took a perfect post pass in the end zone from Villanueva to pull Mexico within one at 42-41. Lujan gathered his squad and told them that they could now beat the best of America. On the other sideline, Schipper explained to his fatigued defense that they had only one final play left in their careers; to dig down deep and give it their best effort! Villanueva took the snap, dropped back five steps, glanced right, then threw to the left towards his tight end who was covered tightly on the inside. In a flash, the ball bounced off the receiver's fingers and to the ground. The NCAA Division III All-Stars, with only four days of practice, outmanned in numbers 35-90, and fighting off the oxygen depletion due to thehigh altitude, had held on to win against a stubborn and well-coached Mexican team of national champions and all-stars. Schipper, who added one more victory to his illustrious career spanning 46 years, graciously received the Aztec Bowl Trophy from CONADE President Miguel Angel Mesa and ONEFA President Raul Moncada, who sponsored the event. "This was just a fantastic game for everyone; wonderful experience for these kids," Schipper said. "They've learned a great deal this week in Mexico, about the culture, about football in Mexico, and about themselves. I am very proud of them, and happy to have been a part of this historic moment in American football. I hope we can do it again!"

1997 Aztec Bowl Roster

WR	Montas Allen	Centre
DL	Glen Arnold	Rensselaer
RB	Dante Brown	Marietta
LB	Nate Casella	Wesley
TE	Ryan Collins	St. Thomas
RB	Shane Davis	Loras
OL	Garrett Dorn	Washington & Jefferson
DL	Buddy Edmonds	Frostburg State
OL	Joe El-Etr	Washington (MO)
DL	J.J. Fadden	Wilkes
LB	London Fletcher	John Carroll
LB	Kyle Fulker	Mississippi College
DB	Charles Glover	Ohio Northern
DB	Terrick Grace	Rowan
RB	Brandon Graham	Hope
OL	Jim Haines	The College of New Jersey
DL	Jamies Harless	Emory & Henry
OL	Clint Head	Simpson
DB	Ross Headley	Wisconsin-Whitewater
OL	Anthony Jacobs	United States Merchant Marine Academy
PK	Chris Kondik	Baldwin-Wallace
QB	Derrin Lamker	Augsburg
WR	Tory Langemo	Concordia-Moorhead
DB	Ric Mathias	Wisconsin-La Crosse
OL	Brian McAvan	Cortland State
OL	Jason Meyer	Lycoming
DL	Devin Moriarty	Amherst
RB	Jim Mormino	Allegheny
LB	Kevin O'Donohue	Hanover
DB	Matt Paulsen	Central (IA)
QB	Jack Ramirez	Pomona-Pitzer
P	Jeff Shea	California Lutheran
DB	Shane Thielke	Gustavus Adolphus
TE	Chuck Thornton	Ithaca
DL	Jeremy Whalen	Simpson
OL	Jim Witte	North Central