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Collins Named Aztec Bowl MVP
Occidental College quarterback Andy Collins ’07 tossed one touchdown and caught another to lead the United States to a 28-7 win over Mexico at the 2006 Aztec Bowl Saturday, Dec. 16 at Estadio Victoria in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Collins, Occidental's sixth AFCA All-American, completed 7 of 17 passes for 142 yards, the second-highest total in Aztec Bowl history. He became the first quarterback named Aztec Bowl Most Valuable Player.
Collins led Team USA to its first score of the game midway through the second quarter, tossing a 54-yard touchdown pass to Augustana running back Mike Guzman, the longest pass in Aztec Bowl history. Guzman caught Collins' pass at the Mexico 43 and scampered the rest of the way for the score.
Mexico answered with a five-play, 44-yard scoring drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Alejandro Trejo just before halftime. The United States went to a no-huddle on the opening series of the second half, scoring on a 35-yard pass from North Central's Kam Kniss to Joe Conrad (John Carroll University) just two and a half minutes into the third quarter.
Muskingum linebacker Jack Junker blocked a Mexico punt four minutes later, setting up an 18-yard touchdown run by Union's Tom Arcidiacano with 6:35 left in the third.
After a 33-yard interception return by Walner Belleus (University of Dubuque), Collins orchestrated an eight-play, 42-yard drive for the United States' final touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Joe Danielson (Wis.-Platteville) caught a 12-yard pass to the Mexico five-yard line but Collins' next two attempts fell incomplete.
On third and goal from the ten, Collins caught a halfback pass from Cody Childs (Wis.-Stevens Point), tumbling forward at the goal line to give Team USA a commanding 28-7 lead.