Sports News: Winter 2005-06

Saturday, December 17, 2005

MORAVIAN'S KEVIN LUKICH HELPS UNITED STATES TO 53-15 VICTORY
AT 2005 AZTEC BOWL

TOLUCA, MEXICO --- Moravian College senior fullback Kevin Lukich (Ogdensburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley HS) caught one pass for 34 yards and carried the ball four times for five yards to help an NCAA Division III all-star team from the United States defeat the Mexican National Team, 53-15, in the 2005 Aztec Bowl Saturday afternoon.

"It was an awesome feeling to represent Team USA and put 53 points up on the board," Lukich said. "To be the leading receiver in an all-star game as a fullback it is unbelievable. I can’t wait to get back home and tell everybody."

Offensively, Team USA was held to 197 yards in total offense. Team USA completed just four passes for 85 yards and ran 32 times for 112 yards. The United States defense and special teams accounted for 36 of Team USA’s 53 points and had a total of 375 yards. Ohio Northern defensive back Wes Hostetler scored three touchdowns. Hostetler alone accounted for 223 return yards as he scored on an 86-yard kickoff return in the first quarter, a 75-yard interception return in the third quarter and a 54-yard punt return in the third quarter to earn Team USA MVP honors. Click here for game statistics.

In addition to Hostetler, Curry’s Charlie Gibbs and North Central’s Lenny Radtke scored on interception returns and Occidental’s Mike Bryant blocked a punt for a safety in the first quarter. The 53 points are the most scored by Team USA in the nine-year series.

When Team USA finally got a chance to run a play with the score 7-7 and 11:07 remaining in the first quarter, Lukich caught a pass from Wabash quarterback Russ Harbaugh, that went for 34 yards and took the Team USA offense inside the ten-yard line. It would be the longest completion of the game for Team USA.

Lukich, the only fullback on the roster of 47 NCAA Division III players, had his longest rush of the game, six yards for a first down during TEAM USA's final drive of the contest. Lukich did have an eight yard run earlier in the game that was nullified by a penalty.

Two other local players participated in the game with Muhlenberg College linebacker Dan McCall making two tackles and adding a fumble recovery and a pass break-up while Delaware Valley College quarterback Adam Knoblauch completed three of ten passes for 51 yards with a touchdown and an interception

For more information on the 2005 Aztec Bowl, please visit http://www.afca.com.