Five Yellow Jackets Named to 2008 Football All-OAC Team

Posted: Nov 25, 2008

BEREA, OHIO -- Five Baldwin-Wallace College football players were named to the 2008 All-Ohio Athletic Conference team released today (Tuesday, November 25, 2008). Highlighting the B-W selections was a first-team nod for senior wide receiver Matt Lepley (Bellevue).

In addition to Lepley's first-team honor, B-W had a pair of players earn second-team status and a duo named honorable mention. Senior defensive tackle Joe Kowalski (Macedonia/Nordonia) was named second-team All-OAC for the third consecutive season along with first time selection and junior offensive tackle Brett Scarl (North Olmsted). Junior linebacker Paul Burger (Mentor) and junior quarterback Anthony Gardner (Rocky River/Lakewood St. Edward) were each named honorable mention.

Lepley, a 2006 second-team All-OAC selection, led the Yellow Jackets in receptions (69) and receiving yards (666) and tied for the team-lead with four receiving touchdowns. His 69 receptions broke the school single-season mark of 64 set in 1993 by Lance Yandell. His 6.90 receptions per game also led the OAC. For his career,Lepley finished with 148 receptions, 1,480 yards and 12 TD.

Kowalski led all B-W defensive linemen with 61 total tackles and recorded team-highs with seven tackles for loss and 10 QB hurries. He no doubt saved his best performance for last as he totaled seven tackles, two sacks and his only career interception and blocked punt in B-W's finale versus Capital University - a 17-0 Yellow Jacket win. He finished his career with 186 tackles, 17.5 sacks and 36.5 tackles for loss, the second most at B-W since 1980.

Scarl, a six-foot and four-inch, 310-pound lineman, started all 10 games on an offense that ranked second in the OAC in yardage (378.6 ypg.) and third in scoring (25.6 ppg.). He will enter his senior season with 201 career tackles, including 18 for loss, three forced and three recovered fumbles and 10 pass breakups.

Burger, also a 2006 second-team All-OAC pick, led B-W with 73 tackles and was one of four Jackets with two interceptions despite missing the season-opener due to injury. His 8.1 tackles per game ranked 11th in the conference this fall.

Gardner completed 64 percent (190-of-298) of his passes for 2,318 yards and 14 TD. He also accounted for five TD on the ground and ranked second in the OAC in both passing (231.8 ypg.) and total yards (245.9 ypg.). He also finished just 135 yards shy of breaking John Koz's school-record for passing yards (2,453 in 1993) in a season. He will enter his senior season with 3,485 career passing yards, 22 pass TD, and seven rush TD.

The Yellow Jackets finished the season at 5-5 overall and finished tied for third in the rugged OAC with a 5-4 league mark. B-W opens the 2009 season on September 5 at home versus Franklin (Ind.) College.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Head Coach John Snell, please call 440-826-2069 or e-mail at jsnell@bw.edu. You can get all of the latest B-W athletics information by visiting our Web site at www.bw.edu/athletics.