Scoring Nationally
Wichlinski Scores Touchdown as D-III All-Stars Rout Mexico, 40-13, in Aztec Bowl
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) -- Susquehanna University senior fullback Matt Wichlinski of Claymont, Del., (Brandywine High School) took a pass 43 yards for a first quarter touchdown, helping the United States Division III All-Stars to a 40-13 victory over the Mexican All-Stars in that country's 27th Aztec Bowl in Monterrey, Mexico, last Saturday evening.
In front of a decidedly pro-Mexico crowd of just over 18,000 at Monterrey's 60,000-seat Estadio Universitario, Wichlinski took a swing pass from Geoff Hemlinger of Baldwin-Wallace and - according to a report by the American Football Coaches Association Director of Publications and Media Relations Todd Bell - "rumbled 43 yards around and over the Mexican defenders to put the U.S. up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter." Bell said that Wichlinski "also had some nice runs during the game," although official statistics have been unavailable.
Wichlinski was one of just 38 players, and only three from the Middle Atlantic Conference, chosen by the American Football Coaches Association to play on the Aztec Bowl Division III All-Star Team. He received an all-expense paid trip from the AFCA to Monterrey for a week of preparation for the game.
Nicknamed "The Claymont Cannonball," the 5-6, 200-pound Wichlinski is the greatest back in Susquehanna's 100 seasons - finishing as both the school's career rushing and scoring record holder with 3,243 yards and 246 points respectively. Recently repeating as a Division III All-American on two teams, Wichlinski will be honored for being the Middle Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Commonwealth League Most Valuable Player by the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Touchdown Club during its annual Melberger Awards' Ceremony on Saturday, December 19, at the Ramada Inn-on-the-Square in Wilkes-Barre.
He finished second in the MAC in both rushing and scoring this season with 1,163 yards on 207 carries for a MAC-best 5.6 per-carry average while scoring 102 points on 17 touchdowns for an 11.3 points per game average. Both totals were the second best single-season marks in Susquehanna history behind his own records from 1997 (1,322 rushing yards, 108 points). He was 17th in scoring and 18th in rushing in the final regular-season NCAA Division III rankings.
Wichlinski was the Most Valuable Player on a Susquehanna team which earned a share of its first Commonwealth League title, finishing 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the league to post its 13th-straight non-losing season.
He is a corporate communications major and the son of Sheila Wichlinski of West Chester, Pa.
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