Tuesday, November 5, 2002

NINE GREYHOUND FOOTBALL PLAYERS & MORAVIAN DEFENSE RANKED NATIONALLY

INDIANAPOLIS, IN --- The Moravian College football team has nine players ranked and the Greyhounds’ defense is ranked in the top 40 in the eighth 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 first in the nation in forced fumbles per game at 0.63. Senior linebacker Vince Cowlishaw (Chatham, NJ/Chatham HS) is tied for 15th in the same category at 0.38 forced fumbles per game. Senior defensive lineman Tom Blackledge (Sellersville, PA/ Pennridge HS) is tied for tenth in the country this week in tackles for loss with an average of 2.4 per game. Senior defensive back Jarrod Pence (Livingston, NJ/Livingston HS) is tied for tenth in the nation in passes defended at 2.0 per game while junior defensive back Nate Pogue (Bethlehem, PA/ Liberty HS) is tied for tenth in passes defended at 2.0 per game. Pogue is also tied for 16th in the country in interceptions with 0.8 per game while junior safety John Panikiewsky (Carteret, NJ/Carteret HS) is tied for 36th in passes defended at 1.6 per game.

Moravian’s other three players are ranked in special teams categories with freshman kicker Nate Strohl (Coplay, PA/Whitehall HS) tied for 28th in field goals per game with an average of 0.9, junior punter John McLain (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere HS) 11th in the country in punting with an average of 39.7 yards per punt, and sophomore wide receiver Jed Warsager (Andover, NJ/Newton HS) ranked 19th in the nation in kickoff returns with an average of 26.5 yards per return.

The Greyhounds, who are 6-2 on the year, are sixth in the country in rushing defense, only allowing 69.9 yards per contest on the ground.

Moravian, which has won five straight games for the first time since 1997, will return to action on Saturday, November 9th when the Greyhounds travel to Susquehanna University in a Middle Atlantic Conference game beginning at 1:00 p.m. Moravian head coach Scot Dapp will be going after his 100th career victory in the contest.