Senior quarterback J.D. Graves of Troy, Mich. (Troy Athens HS) has been invited to play in the Aztec Bowl in Mexico next month.

Graves led the Flying Dutchmen to the championship of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) this fall. He became the first player in MIAA football history to be named the most valuable offensive player two consecutive years.

Graves becomes the third Hope player invited by the American College Football Coaches Association to play in the bowl game featuring NCAA Division III players against an all-star team from Mexico. Previous Hope participants were running back Brandon Graham (1997) and defensive back Todd Tester (1999).

The game will be played December 16th on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

The U.S. team will be coached by Hope College graduate Ron Schipper will had a distinguished coaching career at Central College in Iowa.