Tuesday, October 8, 2002

FIVE GREYHOUNDS & MORAVIAN DEFENSE RANKED NATIONALLY

INDIANAPOLIS, IN --- The Moravian College football team has five players ranked in six categories, and the Greyhounds’ defense is ranked in the top 40 in the fourth release of the NCAA Division III football statistics for the 2002 season.

Moravian’s highest ranked individual is junior defensive back Nate Pogue (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty HS) who is tied for ninth in passes defended at 2.3 per game. Pogue is also tied for 28th in the nation in interceptions with 0.8 per contest. Senior defensive lineman Tom Blackledge (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge HS) is tenth in the country this week in tackles for loss with an average of 2.8 per game.

Moravian’s other three players are ranked in special teams categories with freshman kicker Nate Strohl (Coplay, PA/Whitehall HS) tied for 20th in field goals per game with an average of 1.0, junior punter John McLain (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere HS) 21st in the country in punting with an average of 40.4 yards per punt, and sophomore wide receiver Jed Warsager (Andover, NJ/Newton HS) ranked 25th in the nation in kickoff returns with an average of 28.8 yards per return.

The Greyhounds, who are 2-2 on the year, are 15th in the country in rushing defense, only allowing 70.5 yards per contest on the ground.

Moravian will return to action on Saturday, October 12th when the Greyhounds host Juniata College for a Middle Atlantic Conference game beginning at 1:00 p.m.