Tuesday, October 29, 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 seventh 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 second in the nation in forced fumbles per game at 0.57. Senior linebacker Vince Cowlishaw (Chatham, NJ/Chatham HS) is tied for ninth in the same category at 0.43 forced fumbles per game. Senior defensive lineman Tom Blackledge (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge HS) is tied for 19th in the country this week in tackles for loss with an average of 2.2 per game. Senior defensive back Jarrod Pence (Livingston, NJ/Livingston HS) is tied for sixth in the nation in passes defended at 2.3 per game while junior defensive back Nate Pogue (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty HS) is tied for 11th in passes defended at 2.0 per game. Pogue is also tied for 18th in the country in interceptions with 0.7 per game.

Moravian’s other three players are ranked in special teams categories with freshman kicker Nate Strohl (Coplay, PA/Whitehall HS) tied for 14th in field goals per game with an average of 1.0, junior punter John McLain (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere HS) 11th in the country in punting with an average of 40.1 yards per punt, and sophomore wide receiver Jed Warsager (Andover, NJ/Newton HS) ranked 14th in the nation in kickoff returns with an average of 28.1 yards per return.

The Greyhounds, who are 5-2 on the year, are 12th in the country in rushing defense, only allowing 81.6 yards per contest on the ground.

Moravian, which has won four straight games for the first time since 1997, will return to action on Saturday, November 2nd when the Greyhounds host to Albright College in a Middle Atlantic Conference game beginning at 1:00 p.m.