Sherden Selected to Play in Aztec Bowl
Nov. 15, 2007
Luther senior running back Tyler Sherden (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) 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.
This marks the third Luther player in as many years to be selected to play in this prestigious senior bowl game. Three-time all-conference defensive back Sam McDonald played in this bowl in 2005, followed by two-time all-conference wide receiver Kyle Pearson in 2006.
Sherden was a first team All-Iowa Conference selection this season. He led the IIAC in rushing with 1,238 yards for an average of 154.8 yards per game. He also led the league in all-purpose yards with 1,764 for an average of 220.5 per contest.
After rushing for a single season school record 1,575 yards, he completed his career with 3,362 yards, that ranks third on Luther’s all-time list. Luther Hall of Famer Bernie Peeters established the old mark of 1,442 in 1971. Sherden also tied Peeters single season record for touchdowns with 16, raising his career total to 41, that ranks second all-time.
He accomplished all of these records in just 21 games, after taking over the starting slot at running back midway through the 2004 season. He was moved to his new role after starting 14 games as a starting defensive back. In the six remaining games of the 2004 campaign, he rushed for 1,057 yards and 14 touchdowns, en route to first-team all-conference honors.
In 2005, he suffered a season ending injury in game five and also missed the entire 2006 campaign due to this injury. His five games were very productive, as he rushed for 730 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 146 yards per contest.
Sherden 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.
This year’s Aztec Bowl 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.
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.
