Nov. 26, 2002
Duquesne University senior wide receiver Jeremy Conley (Pittsburgh, PA) and senior defensive back Leigh Bodden (Hyattsville, MD) have been selected as the 2002 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, and headline the 2002 All-MAAC Football League Team, as chosen by the league's head coaches.
Conley, who was also selected as one of the All-MAAC First Team wide receivers, caught 72 passes for a MAAC-best 1,215 yards and 14 touchdowns en route to leading the Dukes to a 11-1 record, a perfect 8-0 MAAC Mark and the 2002 MAAC Football League Title, Duquesne's fourth straight and sixth in the last eight years. Conley averaged 16.9 yards per catch and 6.0 receptions per game for the Dukes.
Bodden, who tied for first in the MAAC in fumbles recovered with four, also contributed eight breakups and seven interceptions in 12 games this season. He was in on 23 total tackles, including 21 solo stops, for the Dukes.
The 2002 MAAC Football League Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year are Saint Peter's Matthew Ward (Spring Valley, NY) and Duquesne's Harry Carter (Lanham, MD), respectively.
Ward, a freshman running back, turned in an impressive rookie campaign in his first season wearing a Saint Peter's uniform. Clayton made 111 carries for 689 yards, averaging 62.6 yards per run. Additionally, Clayton found the end zone seven times. He was named MAAC Rookie of the Week three times this season.
Carter, a freshman linebacker, anchored a staunch Duke defense all season long. He was credited with 88 tackles, including 46 solo stops. He added six tackles for a loss, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one forced fumble. Carter was named MAAC Rookie of the Week twice this season.
The Spalding/MAAC Coach of the Year award is awarded to Duquesne head coach Greg Gattuso. Gattuso earns his fifth award after leading the Dukes to an 11-1 overall mark and a perfect 8-0 MAAC record. He previously won this award in 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2000.
A total of 19 players are repeat choices from a year ago. Those players include Conley, Bodden, Duquesne's Niel Loebig (McDonald, PA), Trent Wissner (Beaver Falls, PA) and Yardon Brantley (Reading, PA); Fairfield's Andrew Turf (Winnetka, IL), Matt Giugliano (Cold Spring, NY), Nick Totaro (Rodeland, NJ) and Mike Cerchio (Red Bank, NJ); Marist's Juwan Jackson (Madison, NJ), Mike Loniewski (Wayne, NJ), Ike Ibeh (Bloomfield, NJ) and Brett Biggs (Bethlehem, PA); Saint Peter's Derek Clayton (Philadelphia, PA), James Galea (Hammonton, NJ), Jon Wasielewski (Bayonne, NJ), Jon Ambrose (Tioga, LA) and Justin Diomede (Keansburg, NJ); and Siena's Dan Smacchia (Thornwood, NY).
