Esdale, Kovalcik Named Academic District II

PITTSBURGH – Duquesne University defensive end Ryan Esdale (Succasunna, N.J. / Roxbury) and punter David Kovalcik (Chantilly, Va. / Chantilly) have been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 2 Football Team.

Ryan Esdale, a junior secondary education major with a 3.73 GPA, and David Kovalcik, a sophomore business major with a 3.87 GPA, are both first-time team members. It marks the ninth time in the past 10 seasons that Duquesne has had at least one representative on the district team.

Esdale and Kovalcik will have their names placed on the national ballot, with the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Football Team to be released on Thursday, December 1.

Esdale enters this weekend’s season finale at Saint Francis, Pa. eighth on the team in tackles with 35 (16 solo) despite missing two early-season games with a shoulder injury. The New Jersey native ranks tied for third on the team with 4.0 sacks and fifth in tackles for loss with 8.5 (for minus 41 yards). A two-year starter, Esdale has also broken up three passes, forced two fumbles and recovered one. Duquesne enters the Saint Francis game ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division I-AA in total defense, rushing defense, passing defense and pass efficiency defense.

Kovalcik, a two-year starting punter, is averaging 33.9 yards on 63 punts this season. He has three punts of over 50 yards and has placed 14 inside the opponent 20-yard line.

Duquesne (6-3, 4-0) clinched its seventh consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League championship – and ninth league title in the last 11 years – with a win over La Salle on Nov. 5.

The Duquesne at Saint Francis game on Saturday is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.

2005 ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT 2
FOOTBALL TEAM – UNIVERSITY DIVISION

Kovalcik, David   DUQUESNE        Punter
Maurer, Brad      LAFAYETTE       Quarterback
Palko, Luke       ST FRANCIS (PA) Receiver
McClelland, Mike  MONMOUTH        Receiver
Mullins, Jeff     MARSHALL        Tight End
Wilson, Devin     ROBERT MORRIS   Running Back
Leonard, Brian    RUTGERS         Running Back
Wilson, Andrew    PRINCETON       Offensive Line
Boccella, Michael BUCKNELL        Offensive Line
Green, Marshall   NAVY            Offensive Line
Mozes, Dan        WEST VIRGINIA   Offensive Line
Justice, Garin    WEST VIRGINIA   Offensive Line
Bower, Ryan       BUCKNELL        Kicker
Martinez, Brad    PENNSYLVANIA    Defensive Back
Frisbey, David    BUCKNELL        Defensive Back
McCready, Nolan   PENN STATE      Defensive Back
Wilson, Josh      MARYLAND        Defensive Back
Posluszny, Paul   PENN STATE      Linebacker
Henry, Jay        WEST VIRGINIA   Linebacker
Bennett, Maurice  LAFAYETTE       Linebacker
Neill, Ryan       RUTGERS         Defensive Line
Parks, Tom        DELAWARE        Defensive Line
Gensler , Ray     ROBERT MORRIS   Defensive Line
Esdale, Ryan      DUQUESNE        Defensive Line