2002 NESCAC Football All-Conference Teams Announced

Williams' Reardon and Farley Named Players of the Year

HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior defensive back Scott Farley and junior quarterback Joe Reardon, both of conference co-champion Williams College, earned the NESCAC Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year respectively. Williams and Trinity shared the NESCAC title after each team finished at 7-1.

Reardon makes his second appearance as the first-team all-NESCAC quarterback after leading the conference in pass efficiency (138.9) and passing yards per game (223.8). Reardon completed 61 percent of his passes for a conference leading 1790 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Scott Farley, who caught nine balls including one for a touchdown while playing wide receiver, led Williams in interceptions and punt returns. A two-time first team selection at defensive back, Farley was also selected as a first-team punter after leading the league with a 38.8 yard average. Farley was a first-team selection at place kicker in 2001.

Wesleyan University running back Pat Curran was honored as NESCAC Offensive Rookie of the Year and Trinity College defensive lineman Michael Blair was awarded NESCAC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Williams Head Coach Richard Farley, father of NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year Scott Farley, was honored as Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Curran carried the ball 91 times for 349 yards and four touchdowns as Wesleyan finished fourth in the NESCAC at 5-3. Blair finished second in the conference with five and a half sacks on the season and was part of a defense which ranked seventh in the nation in rushing defense allowing just 69 yards per game.

Middlebury senior wide receiver Denver Smith and Bates senior running back Sean Atkins were both repeat first-team all-NESCAC selections. Atkins rushed for over 1000 yards and scored a league-leading 11 touchdowns including a 298-yard, seven touchdown performance at Bowdoin. Smith was second in the conference in receptions (47) and receiving touchdowns (7).

Joining Atkins in the backfield are running backs Colby’s Aaron Stepka and Amherst’s Fletcher Ladd. Stepka, the 2001 NESCAC Rookie of the Year, broke both the conference single season rushing mark and rushing attempts record this season totaling 1370 yards on 293 carries.

Senior Ryan Friend and junior Pat Moffett join Smith as all-NESCAC receivers. Friend led the conference with 60 receptions and eight touchdowns. Moffett finished tenth in the nation in receiving yards per game with 112.5. Colby senior Ian MacPherson, honored as an all-conference tight end, caught 28 passes on the year including two for touchdowns.

Middlebury’s Andy Angoff leads a host of seniors selected as all-NESCAC on the offensive line. Angoff, making his second consecutive appearance on the first-team, is joined by seniors Adam Collette of Tufts, Garrett DiCarlo of Williams, Justin Moore of Trinity, and Rob Vernicek of Amherst. Jared Carillo of Trinity is the lone junior on the list. Vernicek was a second team selection in 2000 and 2001.

Heading the all-NESCAC defensive honorees are two-time first team selections Caleb Hudak, defensive lineman at Tufts University, and senior linebacker Mike Moran of Colby. Moran is joined by teammate Mike DiStefano who was a second-team choice in 2001.

A trio of Trinity defenders were named to the first team. Senior Linemen David Midura andDavid Rooney and junior linebacker Greg Tanner led a defense which allowed the fewest points in the NESCAC (13.8 per game) and only 220 yards per game, sixth best in the nation.

Honored for the first time on the all-conference squad are senior defensive lineman Pat Hayes of Amherst, Williams juniors Will McGrath and Graham Goldwasser and Quincy Francis of Wesleyan. McGrath, who led the league in sacks with 6.5 this year, and Goldwasser, ranked fourth in tackles and second in tackles for loss, were part of a passing defense which allowed a league fewest 130.9 yards per game. Francis led the league in solo tackles (66) and total tackles (102) as sophomore.

Senior defensive backs Evan Zupancic of Tufts and Jeremy Carroll of Amherst each had a league leading seven interceptions in the eight game season on their way to first-team honors. Zupancic led the conference and ranked fifth in the nation in passes defended with 19. Seniors Craig Schuette of Middlebury and John Kelly of Williams, each second-team selections in 2001, were honored on the first-team this season.

Junior return specialist Mark Tilki of Tufts heads the list of all-conference special team honorees. Tilki led the conference in kick return average at 25.0 yards per return. Amherst sophomore Jason Wagstaff was also chosen to the first team as a return specialist. Wagstaff led all punt returners with a 14.1 yard average. Sophomore place kicker David Bodner of Amherst rounds out the list of first-team all-NESCAC selections. Bodner set a NESCAC record with eight field goals on the year.