Thursday, August 1, 2002
GREYHOUNDS SELECTED SIXTH IN MAC PRESEASON FOOTBALL POLL
ANNVILLE, PA --- The Moravian College football team has been selected
to finish sixth and Widener University was picked to win the 2002 Middle Atlantic Conference
Championship based on a poll of the league head coaches.
Widener, the defending conference champion, received eight of a possible
11 first-place votes. The Pioneers advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Playoffs a
year ago and return All-MAC quarterback Mike Warker who directed an explosive offense in
2001. Lycoming, 8-1 a season ago, is projected to finish second. The Warriors return five
starters on offense and seven starters from the top defensive team in the conference.
King's garnered one first-place vote and was chosen to finish in third
place. The Monarchs return all 11 starters on the defensive side of the ball anchored by
All-American lineman Steven Wilson. Susquehanna was the coaches' choice to finish fourth
after posting a 4-5 record in 2001. The Crusaders, who suffered through their first losing
season since 1985, return nine offensive starters led by quarterback Mike Bowman and wide
receiver Mark Bartosic.
Juniata earned a first-place vote and is predicted to finish fifth.
The Eagles will ride the arm of quarterback Greg Troutman in 2002. Troutman earned the
MAC Rookie of the Year award after throwing for 2,799 yards and 25 touchdowns.
The other first-place vote went to Moravian as the Greyhounds are
predicted to finish sixth. Moravian head coach Scot Dapp, who is entering his 16th
season, is seven wins shy of 100 for his career. If he is to reach that plateau, he will
need solid performances from seniors quarterback Charlie Bowden (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville
War Memorial HS), tailback Josh Fick (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus HS) and defensive back Jarrod
Pence (Livingston, NJ/Livingston HS).
Wilkes was selected to finish seventh after recording a 4-6 record
in 2001. In all, 16 starters return from last year including nine on the offensive side
of the ball. Albright was selected to place eighth in 2002. The Lions return a total of
10 starters led by wide receiver Jason Scheerer.
Lebanon Valley, FDU-Florham and Delaware Valley round out the poll
at ninth, tenth and eleventh. Lebanon Valley returns 15 starters from last year. FDU-Florham
has 13 starters back from last season including running back Ed Cracchiolo. Delaware Valley
has 15 starters returning from the 2001 season, including eight on the offensive side of
the ball.
2002 FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
1.
Widener University(8) |
117 |
2. Lycoming College |
107 |
3. King's College (1) |
91 |
4. Susquehanna University |
77 |
5. Juniata College (1) |
74 |
6. Moravian College (1) |
67 |
7. Wilkes University |
65 |
8. Albright College |
58 |
9. Lebanon Valley College |
26 |
10. FDU-Florham |
23 |
11. Delaware Valley College |
21 |
First-place votes in parentheses
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