October 30, 2000
MORAVIAN AT WILKES FOOTBALL PREVIEW
THE GAME: Moravian looks to win its third straight game and clinch its first winning
season since 1997 in a Middle Atlantic Conference game when the Greyhounds travel to Wilkes
University on Saturday, November 4th. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Ralston
Field in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
THE COACHES: Scot Dapp (West Chester '73) is in his 14th season at Moravian, with
a career record of 87-53-1 (.621). He entered the season 42nd in winning percentage
among NCAA Division III active coaches. Dapp has earned Coach-of-the-Year accolades
from the MAC three times including Co-Coach of the Year honors in 1997 and has led the
'Hounds to two appearances in the NCAA playoffs.
Wilkes coach Frank Sheptock (Bloomsburg '89) is in his fifth season at the school
with an overall record of 30-19 (.612).
THE SERIES: Saturday's meeting will be the 30th in the series with Moravian holding
a 24-14-1 advantage. The Greyhounds won last year in overtime to snap a three game
losing streak to the Colonels.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET: In Bethlehem last fall, the Greyhounds won their second
game of the season with a 28-22 overtime triumph on a three yard run by tailback P.J.
Jankowicz (Belle Mead, NJ/Hillsborough HS). Moravian jumped out to a 6-0 lead
in the first quarter on a 22-yard pass from quarterback Rob Petrosky to wide receiver Michael
Abbate (South Plainfield, NJ/Bishop Ahr HS). The Colonels took a 15-6 lead in
the second quarter on a 35-yard run by Mike Hankins, a two point conversion by Josh
Bradley and a 45-yard blocked punt return by Adam Houseknecht and the extra-point. Moravian
would cut the lead to 15-14 late in the first half on a 25-yard fumble return by linebacker John
Cupples (Allentown/ Allentown Central Catholic HS) and a two-point conversion
run by Jarrod Pence (Livingston, NJ/Livingston HS). Moravian would regain
the lead in the third quarter on a 51-yard scoring run by tailback Josh Fick (Emmaus/Emmaus
HS) and a two-point conversion pass from Petrosky to Kevin McHale. The
Colonels tied the game with 37 seconds left in regulation on a 15-yard pass from quarterback Jeff
Marshman to Seth Flook. Will McLaughlin's extra-point sent the
game into the extra-session. Moravian stopped Wilkes on downs to start the overtime,
which setup Jankowicz's touchdown run. Linebacker J.D. Rhinehart (Washington,
NJ/Warren Hills Regional HS) led the Moravian defense with 12 tackles and three half
sacks.
LAST WEEK: Freshman tailback Tim Barlok (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Catholic HS) set
a Moravian record with a 95-yard touchdown run in the Greyhounds 52-33 victory over Susquehanna
University in Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth action. Barlok finished the
game with a season best 197 yards, the fifth best day in school history, on 22 carries
and four rushing touchdowns. Barlok also caught two passes for six yards and a score. Moravian,
which scored over 50 points for the first time since a 50-17 victory over Muhlenberg College
in 1994, improved to 5-3 on the season, clinched its first non-losing season since 1997
and finished second in the MAC Commonwealth at 3-2. The Greyhounds erupted for 43
points in the second half after trailing 14-9 at the intermission. Moravian also
ran for 220 yards after halftime after having minus-three yards in the first two quarters. Barlok
got Moravian on the board with 19 seconds left in the first quarter on a nine-yard pass
from sophomore quarterback Charlie Bowden (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial HS). The
Greyhounds led 6-0 after the missed extra-point. Bowden completed 16 of 24 passes
for 233 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. After a pair of Susquehanna
touchdowns, Moravian would score on a 25-yard field goal by junior Jim McIntyre (Hackettstown,
NJ/Hackettstown HS) with 19 seconds left before halftime to make the score 14-9. The
Greyhounds would blow the game open in the third quarter with three touchdowns in the first
8:02. Barlok scored the first two touchdowns on runs of 14 and seven yards. Bowden
completed a two-point conversion to sophomore wide receiver Jarod Rhinehart (Washington,
NJ/Warren Hills Regional HS). Rhinehart grabbed five passes for 73 yards in the
game. Moravian's third touchdown was a 12-yard pass from Bowden to junior wideout Michael
Abbate. McIntyre's extra-point gave the Greyhounds a 31-14 lead with 6:58 left
in the third quarter. Barlok's second touchdown run and Abbate's touchdown receptions
were set up by the Moravian defense recovering fumbles. Abbate caught five passes
for 75 yards. The teams would trade touchdowns for the rest of the game. After
a Susquehanna score, Moravian would get the lead back to 38-20 on a two-yard touchdown
run by Bowden and a McIntyre kick. The Crusaders would cut the score to 38-27 Moravian
with 11:33 left to play. The Greyhounds would add seven more points on a 24-yard
run by Barlok and a McIntyre kick with 10:06 in the fourth quarter to take a 45-27 lead. Susquehanna
scored its final touchdown with 7:57 left in the game to set the score at 45-33 Moravian. Barlok
completed the game's scoring with his school record 95-yard scamper with 3:24 to play. Barlok
took the handoff and followed his blockers off the left side of the line, made one Susquehanna
player miss and was off to the races. His run broke Jack Iannantuono's record
of 91 yards set in 1970 at Delaware Valley. McIntyre's extra-point made the final
score of 52-33. Senior running back P.J. Jankowicz added 20 yards in the game
to pass Iannantuono in the Moravian record books with 2,041 career-rushing yards. Senior
cornerback Doug Joseph (Allentown/Parkland HS), sophomore linebacker John Cupples and
sophomore cornerback Nate Pogue (Bethlehem/Liberty HS) each had 11 tackles in the
game and combined to break-up seven passes. Cupples, sophomore safety Jarrod Pence and
junior safety Mike Wukitsch (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic HS) each had interceptions
in the game while sophomore defensive end Brian Cascioli (Center Valley/Southern Lehigh
HS) and freshman linebacker Steve Maslanek (Stockholm, NJ/Vernon Township HS) each
had a fumble recovery.
MAC ACCOLADES: Freshman tailback Tim Barlok was named the Middle Atlantic
Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his 197 yard performance against Susquehanna
last weekend. Barlok, who had minus five yards on eight carries in the first half,
ran for 202 yards on 14 carries and four touchdowns in the second half with touchdown runs
of 14, 7, 24 and a school record 95 yards. Barlok also caught two passes for six
yards with a nine-yard touchdown reception to open the scoring in the 52-33 victory.
SCOUTING WILKES: The Colonels enter Saturday's game with a 5-3 overall record and
are coming off a 55-0 victory over Albright College last weekend. Sophomore quarterback Jeff
Marshman leads Wilkes on the field. This fall, Marshman has completed 127 of
224 passes for 1,625 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Senior tight
end Frank McCabe has been the top target with 36 receptions for 508 yards and three
touchdowns while senior wide receiver Ryan James and junior wideout Brian Miller each
have 27 catches. James has a team high six touchdowns to go along with 462 yards
while Miller has four scores and 373 yards. Junior running back Seamus Geddis leads
the Colonels with 245 yards on 64 attempts. Freshman running back Steve Rogers has
186 yards on 39 carries and he also starts at outside linebacker and has made 39 tackles. Freshman Ian
Silverman is the place kicker for Wilkes and he has made ten of 12 extra-points this
fall. Freshman Mike Walk is listed as the Colonel starting punter and has
an average of 31.9 yards on 12 kicks with a long of 54 yards. Sophomore linebacker Mike
DaRe leads the Wilkes defense with 54 tackles including ten for loss and five sacks. Senior
defensive end Jermaine Richardson has 53 stops this fall with 22 tackles for loss
and five and a half sacks. Richardson has forced four fumbles while junior cornerback Mike
Vernon has three interceptions and six pass break-ups to lead the team.
YOUNG, BALANCED & EXPERIENCED 'HOUNDS: Of the 75 players on the Moravian roster,
25 are freshmen, 30 are sophomores and 13 are juniors. There are seven seniors on
this season's squad and the Greyhounds returns 35 letterwinners and 14 starters.
GREYHOUNDS IN THE MAC: The 'Hounds defense is fourth the Middle Atlantic Conference
in scoring defense, allowing just 21.1 points per game. The Moravian defense also
ranks fourth in rushing (112.5 yards per contest), eighth in passing (215.8 yards per game),
fifth in total defense (328.3 yards per game), third in pass defense efficiency (104.20)
and tied for second in turnover margin (+1.00 per game). The Greyhounds are a +8
in takeaway/giveaway this season. On offense, the Greyhounds are sixth in scoring
(25.9 points per game), sixth in rushing (119.3 yards per game), fourth in passing (228.0
yards per game), fifth in total offense (347.3 yards per contest) and fourth in pass efficiency
(129.84). Sophomore safety Jarrod Pence is tied for second in the MAC with
0.71 interceptions per game while sophomore safety Mike Wukitsch is tied for fourth
at 0.50 interceptions per game. Senior cornerback Doug Joseph is sixth in
kickoff returns with 22.4 yards a run back and sixth in punt returns at 9.5 per return. Sophomore
quarterback Charlie Bowden ranks third in pass efficiency at 133.76, fourth in passing
at 218.4 yards per game and fourth in total offense at 203.1 yards per contest. Freshman Tim
Barlok is seventh in kickoff returns at 22.1 yards per return, seventh in rushing per
game with an average of 68.0 yards a contest, fifth in all-purpose yardage at 129.5 yards
a game, eighth in scoring at 6.0 points per contest and eighth in touchdown scoring at
6.0 points per contest. Freshman punter Alex Myshak (Lake Ariel/North Pocono HS) is
sixth in punting at 32.8 yards per kick. Junior Michael Abbate is eighth in
receiving yards per game at 62.9 yards a game and tenth in touchdown scoring at 4.5 points
per game while freshman wide receiver Kevin Miltenberger (Carlisle/Carlisle HS) is
ranked ninth in receptions per game with 3.83 catches a contest. Junior kicker Marc
Roesch (Egg Harbor City, NJ/St. Augustine HS) ranks eighth in field goals per game
(0.25). Junior Jim McIntyre is tied for seventh in extra-point percentage
at 84.6 percent (11 of 13 kicks) and ninth in scoring at 1.8 points per game.
POLL POSITION: Moravian was selected to tie for fifth in the MAC Commonwealth preseason
poll this season while Wilkes was picked to finish second in the MAC Freedom. Lycoming
College was again selected as the top team in the MAC.
BOWDEN LEADS THE 'HOUNDS OFFENSE: Sophomore quarterback Charlie Bowden has
completed 130 of 230 passes this season for 1,747 yards and 13 touchdowns with six interceptions,
however, Bowden has been sacked 28 times this season. Bowden threw for 343 yards
against Widener University, which was the sixth highest game total in Moravian history
and the first 300-yard game since 1997. Senior quarterback Jed Moyer (Dresher/Upper
Dublin HS) has completed six of 12 passes for 77 yards and one interception this fall. Moravian's
quarterbacks have been sacked 31 times this fall.
IN THE BACKFIELD: Freshman Tim Barlok leads the squad with 544 yards on
92 attempts and six touchdowns. Barlok has had two 100-yard games since getting into
the starting line-up. Sophomore tailback Josh Fick has 25 carries for 118
yards and one touchdown this year. Senior tailback P.J. Jankowicz, who became
the seventh player in Greyhound history to reach 2,000 career yards against FDU-Madison,
has 202 yards and three touchdowns on 70 carries this season. Senior fullback Frank
Starner (Nazareth/Nazareth HS) has added 158 yards on 44 carries and one touchdown. Freshman Dave
Darmofal (Clarks Summit/Abington Heights HS) has contributed 33 yards on 12 attempts.
THE WIDE RECEIVERS: The Greyhounds have had 13 players catch a pass this season
but have four receivers suffering from injuries. Freshman Kevin Miltenberger,
who suffered a torn ACL against Juniata, has 23 receptions for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Junior
wideout Michael Abbate has 28 catches for a team high 503 yards and five touchdowns
while sophomore wide receiver Jarod Rhinehart has grabbed 24 aerials for 264 337yards. Freshman
wide receiver Jeff Lowry (Catawissa/Southern Columbia HS), who suffered a broken
collarbone in the Juniata game, has eight receptions for 153 yards and a score. Sophomore
tight end Rick Kulp (Bethlehem/Northampton HS) has ten catches for 189 yards and
a touchdown while senior tailback P.J. Jankowicz has 12 receptions for 136 yards
and two touchdowns. Freshman tailback Tim Barlok has grabbed 11 passes for
73 yards and two scores.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Moravian has three starters back on the offensive line this season
including senior tackle Adam Smith (Allentown/Parkland HS). Smith will anchor
the line which averages 6'0", 253. Junior Matt Gray (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point
Pleasant HS) moved from center to the other tackle position. Junior Jon Williams
(Allentown/Parkland HS) returns to one guard spot while sophomore John Giacchi (Franklin,
NJ/Pope John XXIII) moved into the starting role in the other guard position. Sophomore Josh
Zagorski (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills HS) is the starting center.
DEFENSIVE FRONT: Senior defensive end Dustin Collier (Easton/Freedom HS) leads
the Greyhounds front four with 50 tackles with three and a half sacks, eight tackles for
loss, five pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries and one interception. Junior defensive
tackle John Kwiatkowski (Whitehall/Whitehall HS) has added 41 tackles, ten for loss
and a team high five and a half sacks. Sophomore defensive tackle Pat Mancini
(Milford, NJ/Delaware Valley Regional HS) has added 37 tackles, including five for
loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery while sophomore defensive end Brian
Cascioli has 27 tackles with two for loss and one sack. Cascioli, who has a safety
and a fumble return of 30 yards, also blocked a punt against Lebanon Valley College and
earned a 36-yard return for recovering the block. Sophomore defensive end Tom
Blackledge (Sellersville/Pennridge HS) has 30 tackles with five for loss, two sacks
and one forced fumble.
THE LINEBACKER CORP: Senior J.D. Rhinehart leads the Greyhound defense with
74 tackles including 11 for loss, three and a half sacks, three interceptions, five pass
break-ups and two forced fumbles. Sophomore Bill Engler (Coopersburg/Southern
Lehigh HS) has 64 tackles this season with seven for loss and three and a half sacks. Sophomore John
Cupples has added 64 tackles this fall with four for loss and one interception. Freshman Steve
Maslanek has 21 tackles this season with two tackles for loss, two sacks, a fumble
recovery and a partially blocked a punt against King's.
THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Sophomore safety Jarrod Pence has made five interceptions
this fall to lead the Greyhounds and he has added 62 tackles, one forced fumble, eight
pass break-ups and one fumble recovery, which he returned 29 yards for a touchdown against
Lebanon Valley. Senior cornerback Doug Joseph has three interceptions to go
along with 49 tackles and 19 pass break-ups. Junior safety Mike Wukitsch has
40 tackles; four interceptions and 11 pass break-ups while sophomore cornerback Nate
Pogue has 52 tackles and 15 pass break-ups. Freshman safety John Panikiewsky
(Carteret, NJ/Carteret HS) has 21 tackles this season after 12 at King's in his first
collegiate start. Junior Jim McIntyre blocked a punt against King's and has
11 tackles this fall.
KICKING GAME: Junior Marc Roesch, who is handling kickoffs, is four of seven
on extra-points and two of five on field goal attempts this season. Roesch has made
field goals of 28 and 33 yards. Freshman Josh Miller (Boyertown/Boyertown HS) is
five for seven on extra-points and he missed his only field goal attempt. Junior Jim
McIntyre has made 11 of 13 extra-point attempts this year and a 25-yard field goal
last week. Freshman Alex Myshak is the Greyhounds punter and is averaging
32.8 yards per kick with a long of 45 yards against Widener. Myshak has punted 35
times this fall. Freshman John McLain (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere HS) punted
twice against FDU-Madison with a long of 50 yards but he also had two punts blocked.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Freshman Tim Barlok has 19 kickoff returns for 419 yards
while junior Michael Abbate has returned ten punts for 78 yards. Senior Doug
Joseph has 13 kickoff returns for 291 yards and ten punt returns for 95 yards. Sophomore Josh
Fick has returned two punts for 52 yards.
OVERTIME 'HOUNDS: Moravian has played a total of seven overtime games since the
NCAA instituted the rule for the 1996 season and is 5-2 all-time in the extra-session.
ON THE AIRWAVES: For the fourth straight year, the Greyhounds football game will
be aired on WGPA, Sunny 1100 AM. Phil May will handle the play-by-play call with
color commentary from Jim Wills and Chuck Hixson.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact SID Mark Fleming, either at Moravian's
sports information office (610/861-1472) or at home (610/758-8721) or Wilkes SID John
Seitzinger at (570/831-4777).
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