Best Football Start

The Moravian College football squad roared out of the gates in the 2004 season to a 7-0 start, the second longest winning streak in school history and the first time the Greyhounds opened a season with seven straight wins. Despite falling to Franklin and Marshall in the ECAC Southwest Division Championship game, the Hounds finished the year 7-4 for their 14th winning season in the 18-year tenure of head coach Scot Dapp.

The Greyhounds opened the season with a shutout of Juniata College, 34-0, on Juniata’s own turf. Included in the first seven games was a thrilling, final-minute 21-18 defeat of King’s College and road victories in tough settings at Wilkes University (34-27) and Lycoming College (35-14). Moravian finished second at 7-2 in the Middle Atlantic Conference standings, in a year in which the pre-season poll predicted the College would finish seventh.

And it was another record-breaking season for sophomore running back Chris Jacoubs, who finished second in the MAC in rushing, with 1,789 yards, shattering the Moravian all-time mark. He also broke the Moravian career rushing record, with 2,840 yards in just 21 games (so far). He has broken 100 yards a dozen times in his 17 career starts and 200 yards four times in his short Greyhound career.

Chris also was among eight Greyhounds named to the All-MAC team. Joining him on the first team were junior offensive lineman Salvatore DeWalt, senior return specialist Jed Warsager, junior defensive back Tyler Chomik, and senior punter John McLain. Senior defensive linemen Richie Cline and Kevin McLaughlin and sophomore linebacker Cliff Garr were named to the second team.

Dewalt, Jacoubs, Warsager, and McLain were picked as members of Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-East Region Teams. Dewalt was a first-team selection at center, while his three teammates were chosen for the second team. Finally, Warsager made Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-American Third Team as a return specialist. He led the MAC, was seventh in the nation in kickoff return average, and took two kickoffs the distance in 2004.

Record-setting sophomore running back Chris Jacoubs breaks through the line during a 21-18 victory versus King’s College.

Photos: John Ferkp Jr.