Sports News: Fall 2002

Tuesday, October 22, 2002

EIGHT GREYHOUND FOOTBALL PLAYERS & MORAVIAN DEFENSE RANKED NATIONALLY

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

Moravian’s highest ranked individual is senior linebacker John Cupples (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS), who is tied for first in the nation in forced fumbles per game at 0.67. Senior linebacker Vince Cowlishaw (Chatham, NJ/Chatham HS) is tied for sixth in the same category at 0.50 forced fumbles per game. Senior defensive lineman Tom Blackledge (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge HS) is tied for 11th in the country this week in tackles for loss with an average of 2.5 per game. Senior defensive back Jarrod Pence (Livingston, NJ/Livingston HS) is tied for eighth in the nation in passes defended at 2.3 per game while junior defensive back Nate Pogue (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty HS) is tied for 24th in passes defended at 1.8 per game.

Moravian’s other three players are ranked in special teams categories with freshman kicker Nate Strohl (Coplay, PA/Whitehall HS) tied for 17th in field goals per game with an average of 1.0, junior punter John McLain (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere HS) 13th in the country in punting with an average of 40.3 yards per punt, and sophomore wide receiver Jed Warsager (Andover, NJ/Newton HS) ranked 18th in the nation in kickoff returns with an average of 29.2 yards per return.

The Greyhounds, who are 4-2 on the year, are 15th in the country in rushing defense, only allowing 74.2 yards per contest on the ground.

Moravian will return to action on Saturday, October 26th when the Greyhounds travel to Wilkes University for a Middle Atlantic Conference game beginning at 1:00 p.m.