Nov. 14, 2007
WACO, Texas — Marietta defensive lineman Clay Ream has 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 2007 Aztec Bowl on December 8 in Chihuahua, Mexico.
 
Ream, a senior from Burbank, Ohio, was one of the top defensive linemen in the Ohio Athletic Conference this season. The nose tackle finished third on the squad in total tackles with 70, which ranked 15th in the OAC. He also led the Pioneers in sacks with six while finishing second in tackles for loss with 12.5. The 2006 All-American added two blocked kicks and two forced fumbles in 2007. Ream earned All-OAC honors in all four years with the Pioneers. He was named first team All-OAC in 2006 and 2007, second team All-OAC in 2005 and given honorable mention All-OAC in 2004.
 
Ream is one of 50 NCAA Division III seniors from around the country who will make up this year's team. Former Widener, Delaware Valley and LaSalle Head Coach Bill Manlove will coach this year’s team.

Ream is only the second Pioneer to be selected to participate in the prestigeous event and the first since Dantè Brown in 1997.
 
Event Information: This year's game is scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. CST on December 8 at Estadio Olimpico Universitario in Chihuahua.
 
The Aztec Bowl is the traditional season-ending game for Mexico's college football season. The game has been played 36 times since 1947 with the last 10 contests featuring the United States-Mexico match-up. The United States is 9-1 in the series and defeated Mexico, 28-7, in the 2006 game in Aguascalientes.
 
USA Football Teams With AFCA: USA Football, the sport's national governing body leading its development on a grassroots level, will team with the American Football Coaches Association for the first time to co-sponsor the United States Division III National Team at the Aztec Bowl.
 
USA Football's involvement is part of its broader international program that includes organizing the first U.S. senior national team in the sport of football earlier this year. That team captured the gold medal at the 2007 World Championship of American Football in Kawasaki, Japan. Five members of the 2006 Aztec Bowl squad were members of that team.
 
Aztec Bowl Webcast: Chitwood Sports Media of Jefferson, Texas will again provide a live webcast of the Aztec Bowl in 2007. Along with the game webcast on December 8, announcers Charlie Chitwood and Ned Fratangelo will provide 90-minute preview shows on December 5, 6 and 7. 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.
 
The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 10,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."
 
For more information on the AFCA and its programs, log on to the AFCA’s website at www.afca.com.