KINGSVILLE, Texas --- Tusculum College placekicker Gareth Rowlands was perfect Friday night connecting on all four of his extra points to pace the Red Storm to a 28-6 win over the Blue Devils at the 2011 Cactus Bowl, the NCAA Division II Senior All-Star Game, held at Javelina Stadium on the campus of Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
Rowlands, a 6-1, 215-pound senior from Benllech, Wales, was outstanding on his five kickoffs, including a touchback as the Blue Devils averaged just 16.5 yards per kickoff return.
Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski earned the game's Most Valuable Offensive Player as the 2010 Harlon Hill Trophy winner went 8-for-13 for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cactus Bowl is an all-star game featuring NCAA Division II senior football players and the proceeds from the game will go to the Shiners Hospital for Children. The Cactus Bowl has been played in Kingsville, Texas, since 2001. It previously was called the Snow Bowl and played in Fargo, N.D. Since the game's inception in 1994, there have been over 100 players that have been signed by NFL teams after playing in the Cactus Bowl.
Rowlands becomes the 10th Tusculum College player to be selected to the Cactus Bowl, joining former Pioneer greats Paul Czerniak (2001), Doug Holmberg (2003), Kevin Wolcott (2004), Alan Dunn (2004), Mario Leon (2005), Shawn Harris (2006), Corey Russell (2009), Justin Scott (2009) and Jarrell NeSmith (2010).
- TC -
