Kris Zajac selected to play in 2005 Aztec Bowl

DEFIANCE, Ohio—Defiance College’s Kris Zajac (Grosse Ile, Mich.- Grosse Ile) has been selected to play in the 2005 Aztec Bowl by the American Football Coaches Association. Featuring a United States squad of 46 players, selection onto the squad is known as a top honor for Division III Football players across the nation.

The Aztec Bowl is the traditional season-ending game for Mexico’s college football season. The game has been played 34 times since 1947 with the last seven contests featuring the United States-Mexico match-up. The United States has won seven of the eight meetings. The game will take place on December 17 in Toluca, Mexico.

Jacket fans can follow the 2005 Aztec Bowl game and preview show by listening to live webcasts available at www.tsrnsports.com.

Zajac ended his celebrated collegiate career by earning the Heartland Conference ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ award for his 84 tackles and league-leading 15.5 tackles-for-loss in 2005. Zajac added 10 sacks, one interception and two pass break-ups for the Yellow Jackets, who improved from 1-9 in 2004 to 6-4 in his senior campaign. His 2005 season is even more impressive considering that the 5-10, 190-pounder made the switch in mid-season from defensive back to linebacker in DC’s 3-4 defense.

During his final year, Zajac was honored by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette as a National Player of the Week after registering 18 tackles, five tackles-for-loss and four sacks in a 29-26 win over Bethany College on September 17th. He was later named to D3Football.com’s National Team of the Week for totaling 13 tackles in a 38-23 win over Franklin College. He also had two sacks and a forced fumble in the defeat of the Grizzlies. Zajac was honored as the HCAC’s ‘Defensive Player of the Week’ for each of his two nationally-recognized performances.

The Grosse Ile, Michigan native was named a team captain, team defensive MVP, and was given the ‘Coaches’ Award’ by DC head coach Robert Taylor at season’s end.

Zajac was named second-team All-HCAC after finishing third on the 2004 DC squad with 60 tackles, including 5.5 tackles-for-loss with two sacks. He added an interception, five pass break-ups and a blocked kick as a junior.

In 2003, Zajac was fourth on the team with 58 tackles. He had 2.0 tackles for loss, two pass break ups, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick as a sophomore.

The Grosse Ile High School graduate earned 1st team all-conference and All-Midwest honors as a Red Devil, lettering for head coach Jeff Clark.

Kris is the son of Ken and Linda Zajac and has one sibling, Ken.

Former Central College Head Coach Ron Schipper will again serve as the U.S. head coach. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Schipper has guided the previous eight U.S. Aztec Bowl teams.

Chitwood Sports Media of Jefferson, Texas will provide the live webcast of the Aztec Bowl. Along with the game webcast on December 17, announcers Charlie Chitwood and Ned Fratangelo will provide 90-minute preview shows on December 14, 15 and 16. 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.

Global Football, a Granbury, Texas company specializing in international sports events and tours, will again organize the event.

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 Pittsburgh Steelers.