Sports News: Fall 2002

Thursday, November 14, 2002

BLACKLEDGE & GUSTAFSON NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM

BETHLEHEM, PA --- Senior defensive lineman Tom Blackledge (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge HS) and senior fullback Eric Gustafson (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood HS), who have helped the Moravian College football team to a 7-2 record this season, has been named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District II College Division Football Team selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

By making the All-District squad, Blackledge and Gustafson are now forwarded onto the national ballot to try for Verizon Academic All-American® accolades, which will be announced on December 2nd.

To be eligible for Verizon Academic All-America® accolades, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 grade-point average, be a sophomore, junior or senior and be a starter or significant reserve. The College Division is made up of all the NCAA Division II and III Schools in the nation as well as all NAIA schools. Student-athletes from NCAA Division I schools are named to the University Division Teams. District II is made up of schools from Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Blackledge leads the Moravian defensive front and he is tied for second on the squad with 58 tackles, including 22 solo stops. Blackledge, who is ranked nationally in tackles for loss per game this season, had added 27 tackles for loss; five and a half sacks and three pass break-ups. Moravian’s defense is ranked eighth in the nation against the run, allowing just 70.2 yards per game on the ground. Blackledge, who was on the Verizon Academic All-District Team as a sophomore, has made 133 tackles with 57 solo stops, 51 tackles for loss of 160 yards, 13 and a half sacks for loss of 103 yards, five pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

Gustafson has helped the Moravian offense average 166.2 yards per game on the ground this season. Gustafson has gained 272 yards on 60 carries and he has added four receptions for 14 yards and one kickoff return for 11 yards. In his career, Gustafson gained 571 yards on 128 carries with two touchdowns. He has added 11 receptions for 35 yards and four kickoff returns for 72 yards in 27 career games.

Moravian closes out the 2002 season at home on Saturday, November 17th with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff with rival Muhlenberg College.

Blackledge and Gustafson will now try and become the 26th and 27th Verizon Academic All-Americas® in Moravian history and the 21st and 22nd in the last ten years.