BATES FOOTBALL TRIO EARNS NESCAC POSTSEASON HONORS
 

LEWISTON, Maine -- Three members of the Bates College football team have received post-season accolades from the New England Small Athletic Conference (NESCAC).

First-year linebacker Bob Rosenthal of Walpole, Mass., was named NESCAC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Rosenthal was third on the team this season with 89 tackles (27 solo). He led the Bobcats with three forced fumbles and was second on the team with five sacks. Rosenthal was honored as conference Defensive Co-Player of the Week for his performance on Oct. 18 against Middlebury College. In that game, he led the Bobcats with 16 tackles, 10 of them solo, both season highs. Rosenthal had 1.5 sacks, the first of which forced a fumble that he recovered and returned 37 yards for Bates' first defensive touchdown of the season. Rosenthal is the second straight Bates linebacker to win the award, joining high school teammate Frost Hubbard. The two played on the 1995 Massachusetts State Division II B Super Bowl champions at Walpole High School. Rosenthal spent a year at Blair Academy in New Jersey before attending Bates. "Bob is a great young man to coach," Bates head coach Rick Pardy said. "He can play sideline to sideline or fill gaps up the middle. I don't think there was any dispute that he was best defensive rookie in the conference this year."

Seniors P.J. McGrail of Westwood, Mass., a running back, and Peter Marino of Holliston, Mass., an offensive lineman, were both named the NESCAC All-Conference team. After missing much of the 1996 season to injury, McGrail rushed for 745 yards and four touchdowns on 180 carries this season, leading the conference with an average of 93.1 yards per game. He became the first Bates player to lead the conference in a major offensive catagory since teams began playing NESCAC opponents exclusively in 1992. McGrail's rushing total was the best by a Bobcat since All-American Chris Hickey '88 set the school record of 1288 yards in 1987. "P.J. was a threat every time he touched the ball this season," Pardy said. "After injuries he suffered last season, we we very fortunate to have him return and perform at the high level he did."

Marino, a left guard who was a prime factor in McGrail's conference rushing title, is listed at 6-7, 305 pounds. He has been scouted by several NFL teams this season, including the New England Patriots and New York Jets. "Peter was clearly one of the premier offensive linemen in the NESCAC," Pardy said. "His improvement from last season to this was immense, and he displayed outstanding senior leadership as well."

Rosenthal is a 1997 graduate of Blair Academy, Blairstown, N.J. McGrail is a 1994 graduate of Westwood High School. Marino is a 1994 graduate of Holliston High School.