MEXICO STUNS UNITED STATES, 34-31, IN 2003 AZTEC BOWL

CANCUN, MEX.-- The United States overcame a record 180 yards in penalties but could not survive two fourth quarter turnovers as Mexico rallied from a 31-13 deficit to win the 33rd Aztec Bowl, 34-31, at Estadio Cancun 86 on Saturday evening.

The win was the first for Mexico in seven tries against the United States in this series that pits the top college players in Mexico against the top NCAA Division III players from the U.S.

Alfred's versatile Jesse Raynor earned Team USA MVP honors as he rushed for one touchdown and converted one field goal and four PATs. His 14 points tie for the second-most scored by a Team USA player in the Aztec Bowl. Raynor also handled all of the kickoff duties for the United States.

"That's kind of what I usually do at Alfred," Raynor said. "This was more nerve-wracking but I'm used to it. I'd give up this trophy for a bigger one. I love football and it's more important for the team to win than to win individual honors."

Raynor's 30-yard field goal with 38 seconds left in the first quarter gave the United States a brief 3-0 lead but Mexico responded with two second quarter touchdowns to jump in front 13-3 after a missed PAT on the second score. The United States closed the gap to 13-10 at the half as Hardin-Simmons receiver Joe Lemberg shook loose from Mexico defender and hauled in a 16-yard scoring pass from Linfield's Tyler Matthews.

The score was the first of four consecutive touchdowns for Team USA as it rolled out to a 31-13 lead on the strength of third quarter touchdown runs by Wisconsin-Stout's Luke Bundgaard, Raynor and Ferrum's Moncrief Holmes.

The United States would not pick up another first down the rest of the way however as Mexico roared back in the fourth quarter. Mexico pulled to 31-21 with 7:10 to go in the game on a 19-yard pass from Rodrigo Perez to Gustavo Tella and a successful two-point conversion On the ensuing U.S. possession Mexico recovered a Bundgaard fumble and Perez hit Mario Nava for his second score of the game to cut the lead to 31-27 after a missed PAT with 5:44 to go. Raynor fumbled on the next series and Perez hit Nava again with 4:21 to go to put Mexico up 34-31.

The United States turned the ball over on downs on the ensuing series and Mexico ran out the clock to end the game.

"When you turn the ball over twice in the fourth quarter you aren't going to win many games," U.S. Head Coach Ron Schipper said following the game. "I hate to lose the way we lost but Mexico did a super job in the fourth quarter. We didn't put them away."

Offensively, Matthews set Team USA records for completions, attempts and yards as he was 10 for 16 for 158 yards. As a team, the U.S. threw for a record 212 yards. Team USA's 391 yards in total offense is its second-highest total in the series.

Defensively, Rowan's Domenic Tomeo set a team record with 12 total tackles for the United States. Williams' Graham Goldwasser and Capital's Ron Swearingin had eight apiece.

USA 1st- Raynor 30 FG, :38

MEX 2nd- Nava 17 pass from Valdez (Tella kick), 11:43

MEX 2nd- Lopez 1 run (pass failed), 2:53

USA 2nd- Lemberg 16 pass from Matthews (Raynor kick), :22

USA 3rd- Bundgaard 33 run (Raynor kick), 12:40

USA 3rd- Raynor 42 run (Raynor kick), 7:40

USA 3rd- Holmes 21 run (Raynor kick), 2:55

MEX 4th- Tella 19 pass from Perez (Lira pass), 7:10

MEX 4th- Nava 16 pass from Perez (kick failed), 5:44

MEX 4th- Nava 20 pass from Perez (Tella kick), 4:21

Rushing: Luke Bundgaard (Wis.-Stout), 8-56; Jesse Raynor (Alfred), 10-45; Moncrief Holmes (Ferrum), 4-26; Scott Krause (Wis.-Stevens Point), 4-20; Erik Fisher (Carleton), 7-19; Tyler Matthews (Linfield), 2-9; Roy Olson (Frostburg St.), 0-4.

Passing: Matthews, 16-10-0, 158; Krause, 10-5-0, 54.

Receiving: Matt Ditch (Cornell <Iowa>), 6-87; Conrad Singh (Randolph-Macon),

4-24; Joe Lemberg (Hardin-Simmons), 3-61; Matt Yvon (Westfield St.), 1-36; Holmes, 1-4.

Punting: Mike Donnenwerth (Simpson), 6-46.8

Tackles: Domenic Tomeo (Rowan) 6-6-12; Graham Goldwasser (Williams), 3-5-8; Ron Swearingin (Capital), 2-6-8; Thomas DeMoss (Widener), 2-5-7; Nick Hajjar (Wooster), 4-2-6; Jacob Knighton (Concordia <Wis.>), 3-2-5; Mike Hansen (Augustana <Ill.>)2-3-5; Jim Kostack (Wesley), 3-1-4; Tony Salazar (Mary Hardin-Baylor), 1-3-4; David Pisanick (Allegheny), 0-4-4; Matt Walther (Brockport St.), 3-0-3; Eric Johnson (Mount St. Joseph), 0-3-3; Wil Goff (Redlands), 2-0-2; Joe Indriolo (John Carroll), 1-1-2; Lee Clayton (Millikin),1-1-2; Jarrod Smith (Trinity <Texas>), 0-2-2; Greg Koch (Baldwin-Wallace), 0-2-2; Fisher, 1-0-1.

Tackles for Loss-Yds.: Pisanick, 2-10; Indriolo, 1-10; DeMoss, 1-9; Johnson, 1-8; Tomeo, 1-3; Hansen, 1-2.

Sacks: DeMoss, 1; Indriolo, 1; Pisanick, .5; Johnson, .5.

Interceptions: Cody Kelley (Wartburg), 1; Joe Masciopinto (St. Norbert), 1; Clayton, 1; Koch, 1.

-(AFCA)-

Todd Bell

American Football Coaches Association

Director of Media Relations

100 Legends Lane

Waco, Texas 76706

P- 254-754-9900 ext. 30

F- 254-754-7373

e-mail: tbell@afca.com