The United States team got all it could handle from the Mexican all-stars but walked away with a narrow 27-26 in the Aztec Bowl Saturday, Dec. 16, in Merida, Mexico.

The Aztec Bowl is the traditional season-ending game for Mexico’s college football season. It has been played 29 times since 1947, with the last four contests, from 1997-2000, featuring U.S.-Mexico matchups, all won by the American team.

Alfred University standout Brian Keefer (Jamestown/Maple Grove), a senior strong safety on the Saxons football team, was selected by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) to play in the contest. Keefer notched a pair of tackles in what was his final game at the collegiate level.

The Aztec Bowl is the traditional season-ending game for Mexico’s college football season. It has been played 28 times since 1947, with the last three contests, from 1997-99, featuring U.S.-Mexico matchups, all won by the American team.

As ma member of the American team, Keefer was in elite company. The AFCA chooses only 40 seniors from Division III football programs across the country to play in the Aztec Bowl.

Keefer, who ranks fourth on Alfred’s all-time career tackles list with 317, finished the 2000 season with a team-leading 85 tackles (55 solo, 30 assisted), including 11 for losses and six sacks.