Junker named to the AFCA's 2006 Aztec Bowl Squad

NEW CONCORD, OHIO, November 21, 2006 - Muskingum College senior linebacker Jack Junker has been selected to play for the American Football Coaches Association's Division III all-star team that will represent the United States against the Mexican National Team in the 2006 Aztec Bowl on December 16 in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Junker, a senior from Parma Heights, Ohio, was named Bill Edwards Most Outstanding Linebacker in the Ohio Athletic Conference and garnered first team all-league accolades too. Junker led the Black & Magenta and was fourth in the conference in tackles with 84. He garnered National Team of the Week honors for his career-high 22-tackle performance against Otterbein College. Additionally, Junker logged 8.5 tackles for loss for 25 yards, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles, tallied one sack for three yards and broke-up one pass. Junker ended his Muskie career with 250 tackles and 21 stops for a loss. He is a two-time all-league honoree.

Junker is one of 48 NCAA Division III seniors from around the country who will make up this year's team. This marks the third time a Muskingum player has been selected to play in the Aztec Bowl (Brandon Clum - 2004, Jim Kornokovich - 2000).

The Aztec Bowl is the traditional season-ending game for Mexico's college football season. The game has been played 35 times since 1947 with the last nine contests featuring the United States-Mexico match-up. The United States is 8-1 in the series.

Chitwood Sports Media of Jefferson, Texas will again provide a live webcast of the Aztec Bowl in 2006. Along with the game webcast on December 16, announcers Charlie Chitwood and Ned Fratangelo will provide 90-minute preview shows on December 13, 14 and 15. 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.

Aztec Bowl Alumni: Two former Team USA members, London Fletcher and Clint Kriewaldt, are currently playing in the National Football League. Fletcher, who played collegiately at John Carroll and was a member of the 1997 U.S. team, is a member of the Buffalo Bills. Kriewaldt was the Detroit Lions’ 1999 fifth-round draft pick out of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and played in the 1998 Aztec Bowl. He is currently a member of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

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."