Lewis Receives Aztec Bowl Invite

Nov. 30 - (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - Carnegie Mellon University senior defensive back Aaron Lewis (Englewood, Ohio/Northmont) has been chosen to play for the American Football Coaches Association’s Division III All-Star Team in the 2006 Aztec Bowl.

One of 48 Division III seniors, Lewis will play for the Unites States team when they battle the Mexican National team on December 16.

At 6’0, 210 lbs., the four-time University Athletic Association (UAA) First Team Selection, he also earned CoSida First Team Academic All-America honors this week for the second straight season.

A senior co-captain, Lewis led the Tartans with 89 tackles, five interceptions and one touchdown return in leading the team to a perfect 10-0 regular season. Carnegie Mellon also won the UAA Championship as well as their first Division III playoff game since 1979 in their first appearance since 1990. 

Prior to their season ending second round loss on the road versus Wesley College, Carnegie Mellon boasted the third-ranked scoring defense in Division III (7.5 points per game). The Tartans earned their third shutout of the season the week before the loss to Wesley in a 21-0 opening round victory over Millsaps College.

Lewis becomes the second player in school history to be selected to the Aztec squad. Following the 2000 season Nick Zitelli earned MVP honors in a 27-26 United States victory over Mexico. The senior inside linebacker from McKees Rocks, Pa. recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown and nabbed an interception.

The 36th installment of the Aztec Bowl kicks off at 7 p.m. at Estadio Victoria Stadium in Aguascalientes, Mexico with Bill Manlove, former Widener, Delaware Valley and LaSalle head coach, guiding the 2006 American team. This year’s matchup marks the 10th battle between the United States and Mexico with the U.S. grabbing an 8-1 edge following their 53-15 victory last year in Toluca.