Football's Dykstra competes in 2008 Valero Cactus Bowl

 by Jeff Duggan, Colorado Mines Sports Information Director

KINGSVILLE, Texas - Colorado School of Mines' Derek Dykstra competed for the West All Stars in the 2008 Valero Cactus Bowl, which was played on Friday, January 11th, at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas (on the campus of Texas A&M University - Kingsville).

The East All Stars defeated the West All Stars by the count of 42-13 in the 2008 Valero Cactus Bowl, which is the annual NCAA Division II post-season all-star football game.

Dykstra finished the contest with two receptions for 22 yards (long of 13).

A 6'3", 200-lb. senior wide receiver from Seibert, Colo. (Hi-Plains H.S.), Dykstra led the Orediggers in receptions (52), receiving yards (802), yards per catch (15.4) and touchdown receptions (seven) in nine games played last fall. A 2007 First Team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) selection, Dykstra finished third in the RMAC in receiving yards per game (89.1), fourth in receptions per game (5.78), sixth in both all purpose yards per game (91.1) & points per game (4.9) and eighth in scoring (44 points). Dykstra also had seven punt returns for 21 yards (3.0 yards per return) in 2007.

For his career, Dykstra recorded 170 receptions for 2,122 yards (12.5 yards per catch) and 14 touchdowns. A Second Team All-RMAC pick in 2006 and the recipient of Honorable Mention All-RMAC recognition in 2005, Dykstra had 21 career punt returns for 143 yards (6.8 yards per return). Dykstra also served as a kickoff returner and long snapper during his career at CSM.

The Cactus Bowl began as the Snow Bowl in 1994 at the Fargo Dome in Fargo, N.D. After its initial seven-year run, the game was moved to Kingsville in 2001. The game was played in Kingsville for six years, and after a hiatus last season, returned to Javelina Stadium in 2008. Played in an East / West format, the Cactus Bowl teams were comprised entirely of the 'best of the best' NCAA Division II college seniors. The Cactus Bowl Committee was responsible for all organizational aspects of the contest. Net profits from the Cactus Bowl were donated to Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Colorado School of Mines concluded the 2007 season with a 7-5 overall record and competed in the 2007 Dixie Rotary Bowl (one of two sanctioned NCAA Division II bowl games) on December 1st in St. George, Utah. The Orediggers went 6-2 in the RMAC this fall and secured their sixth winning season in the past seven years.

For more information, please contact the Cactus Bowl Committee at info@cactusbowl.org or visit the Cactus Bowl website at http://www.cactusbowl.org/.