Dec. 8, 2007
CHIHUAHUA, Mexico — Marietta College senior football standout Clay Ream (Burbank/Northwestern) capped off his collegiate playing career Saturday (Dec. 8) afternoon by helping the United States defeat Mexico, 37-19, in the 2007 Aztec Bowl.

Ream, who on Friday was announced as a third team All-North Region selection by d3football.com for the second straight year, made his usual impact in the trenches. [D3Football.com All-Region Teams] The first team All-OAC nose tackle finished the game with three total tackles, including two solo hits. He also added an eight-yard sack to stall a fourth-quarter drive by Mexico. [Complete Aztec Bowl Recap]

Ream was only the second Pioneer to be selected to participate in the prestigious event and the first since Dantè Brown in 1997. He 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 Don Hansen 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.

The Aztec Bowl is the traditional season-ending game for Mexico's college football season. The game has been played 37 times since 1947 with the last 11 contests featuring the United States-Mexico match-up. The United States is 10-1 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, teamed 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.

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.