Tuesday, November 18, 2003

JACOUBS NAMED MAC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR;
FOUR GREYHOUNDS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

ANNVILLE, PA --- Freshman running back Chris Jacoubs (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven HS) of the Moravian College football team has been named the 2003 Middle Atlantic Conference Rookie of the Year and seniors John Panikiewsky (Carteret, NJ/Carteret HS) and Nate Pogue (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty HS) and juniors Kevin McLaughlin (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic HS) and Andrew Leska (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) earned spots on the All-Conference Second Team announced Tuesday by the MAC.

Moravian completed the 2003 season with a 3-7 overall record and a 3-6 slate in the MAC.

Jacoubs broke Moravian’s single season rushing record on his final carry of the season, finishing the year with 1,051 yards on 216 carries with seven touchdowns. He passed Jim Joseph’s mark of 1,048 yards set in 1985 when Joseph was a senior. Jacoubs and Joseph are the only two player in Moravian history to run for more that 1,000 yards in a season. Joseph holds the career mark with 2,751 yards on 648 carries. Jacoubs broke the single game rushing record with 319 yards on 51 carries with three touchdowns in a 28-24 loss at Albright College on November 8th. He passed James Evanko’s record of 256 yards set against Wagner College on November 14, 1953.

Jacoubs had just 241 yards on 43 carries when he became the starter in the fifth game of the season. He had 126 yards on 26 attempts in that game at King’s College, and Jacoubs also ran for 136 yards on 23 carries the next week versus Wilkes University. Jacoubs had the ability to break off a long run with eight carries over 20 yards after becoming the starter with four attempts for more than 40 yards with his longest run of the season, a 65-yard touchdown at King’s on his second carry of the game.

Jacoubs also caught five passes this season for the Greyhounds for 30 yards with a long reception of 19 yards against Muhlenberg College. Jacoubs was also called on to return kickoffs for Moravian with 11 returns for 215 yards. His longest kickoff return was a 44-yarder versus Lycoming College.

Panikiewsky, a defensive back, led the Moravian defense in tackles this season with 82 stops including 55 solo tackles. Panikiewsky added five tackles for loss, one and a half sacks, a fumble recovery and he tied for the team lead with three interceptions, 11 passes defended and two forced fumbles. Panikiewsky earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors in 2002 and completed his career with 207 tackles with 19 tackles for loss, four sacks, seven interceptions, 25 passes defended, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Pogue, a defensive back, was second on the Greyhound squad this season in tackles with 69 stops, including 44 solo tackles. Pogue also had five tackles for loss, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while tying for the team lead in passes defended with 11. Pogue, who was a member of the All-Conference Second Team in 2002, completed his career with 221 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 15 interceptions with 158 return yards and one touchdown, 58 passes defended, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

McLaughlin, a nose tackle, helped anchor the Greyhounds defensive front this fall. McLaughlin made 39 tackles (eighth on the squad) with five tackles for loss, one and a half sacks and a pass break-up. McLaughlin, who was in his first season as a starter in 2003, has made 46 career tackles.

Leska, Moravian’s starting left tackle, was one of two returning starters on the Greyhounds’ offensive line, which started as many as three freshmen this season. Leska helped the Moravian offense average 297.6 yards per game, including 174.3 yards per contest on the ground.