2000 Review

After back-to-back losing seasons, the Moravian College football team busted out with a 6-4 record that saw two three-game winning streaks. The Greyhounds opened the year with three straight wins before running into a Widener University team that reached the NCAA semifinals. After losing two more games by a combined ten points, the squad put another three game winning streak before falling to rival Muhlenberg in the final game of the season.

Sophomore Charlie Bowden (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial HS) took over at quarterback this season and became the third signal caller in school history to throw for over 2,000 yards in a single season. Bowden completed 167 of 299 pass attempts for 2,237 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Bowden's top targets this season were junior wide receiver Michael Abbate (South Plainfield, NJ/Bishop Ahr HS), who had 37 catches for 598 yards and five touchdowns, and sophomore wideout Jarod Rhinehart (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills Regional HS) with 32 receptions for 412 yards and one score. Abbate made the MAC Commonwealth All-Star Second Team. Freshman wide receiver Kevin Miltenberger (Carlisle/Carlisle HS) played in just six games before an ACL injury but he had 23 catches for 228 yards and two scores. Sophomore tight end Rick Kulp (Walnutport/Northampton HS) had 14 receptions for 285 yards and a score.

Freshman tailback Tim Barlok (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Catholic HS) transferred to Moravian this year and added a spark in the backfield. Barlok, a MAC Commonwealth All-Star First Team honoree, ran for 665 yards on 122 carries and eight touchdowns. He also grabbed 16 passes for 139 yards and two more touchdowns. Senior running back P.J. Jankowicz (Belle Mead, NJ/Hillsborough HS), who had led the team in rushing the last three seasons, moved from tailback to fullback to give Barlok playing time. Jankowicz did gain 264 yards on 86 carries to become the seventh player in school history to surpass 2,000 yards in a career.

Senior fullback Frank Starner (Nazareth/Nazareth HS) gained 189 yards on 52 carries while sophomore Josh Fick (Emmaus/Emmaus HS) had 130 yards and two touchdowns on 28 attempts. Fick, who moved to wide receiver after the Greyhounds suffered four injuries, caught 12 passes for 176 yards.

Senior offensive lineman Adam Smith (Allentown/Parkland HS) was named to the MAC Commonwealth All-Star Second Team.

Freshman Alex Myshak (Lake Ariel/North Pocono HS) handled the Greyhounds' punting duties this fall and averaged 32.9 yards per kick on 48 attempts. He had eight punts fair caught and he pinned the opposition inside the 20-yard line 13 times. Junior Marc Roesch (Egg Harbor City, NJ/St. Augustine HS) did the kickoffs all season and he was four of seven on extra-points and two of five on field goal attempts. Freshman Josh Miller (Boyertown/Boyertown HS) made five of seven extra-points this season while junior cornerback Jim McIntyre (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown HS) made 15 of 18 extra-points and one of two field goals.

Barlok led the Greyhounds in kickoff returns with 463 yards on 22 returns while Abbate topped the Hounds in punt returns with 16 for 132 yards and one touchdown. Senior defensive back Doug Joseph (Allentown/Parkland HS) had 405 yards on 18 kickoff returns and 95 yards on ten punt returns.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Greyhounds were led by senior linebacker J.D. Rhinehart (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills Regional HS), who had 97 tackles, 12 for loss, three and a half sacks, five interceptions, eight pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and one blocked kick. Rhinehart was a MAC Commonwealth Second Team All-Star. Sophomore linebacker John Cupples (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic HS) made 90 tackles with five for loss and one interception.

Sophomore linebacker Bill Engler (Coopersburg/Southern Lehigh HS) and sophomore safety Jarrod Pence (Livingston, NJ/Livingston HS) each made 70 tackles with Engler adding seven tackle for loss and three and a half sacks and Pence contributing five interceptions and nine pass break-ups. 

Senior defensive end Dustin Collier (Easton/Freedom HS), who was a MAC Commonwealth Second Team All-Star, made 65 tackles with 11 for loss and a team high five and a half sacks. Collier added an interception; five pass break-ups and three fumble recoveries. 

Joseph, a MAC Commonwealth First Team All-Star, had 60 tackles, four interceptions and a conference leading 22 pass break-ups. Sophomore cornerback Nate Pogue (Bethlehem/Liberty HS) had 62 tackles; three interceptions and 19 pass break-ups this fall.

With a total of 32 sophomores and freshman on the final two-deep roster of the season, the Greyhounds look to continue their return to a power in the MAC.