Wagner-Duquesne Highlights

Somerset, NJ - Wagner defensive back Torian Phillips (Port Richmond, NY / Port Richmond / Syracuse) was named the Northeast Conference (NEC) Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Seahawks clinch the conference title with an outstanding performance on Senior Day.

The win was the eighth-straight for the Green & White, which will host No. 24 Colgate on Saturday, November 24 at 12:00 pm in a NCAA Football Division I Championship opening round game at Hameline Field.

Phillips' interception started the dance party on Staten Island this past Saturday. The senior cornerback picked off a third-down pass late in the fourth quarter to secure Wagner's 23-17 victory over Duquesne and send the Seahawks to the NCAA FCS playoffs. Phillips totaled seven tackles and two pass break-ups in addition to the game-sealing interception as the Seahawks won their first-ever Northeast Conference crown.

Five of his seven stops were of the solo variety and the veteran defensive back made two drive-stunting tackles in the first half. On a 3rd-and-3 play midway through the first quarter, Phillips stopped the Dukes ball carrier two yards shy of the sticks to force Duquesne to settle for a 51-yard field goal attempt. The native Staten Island, who began his collegiate career at Syracuse, helped derail Duquesne's first drive of the second quarter. He wrapped up receiver Sean Brady after a three-yard gain on 2nd-and-9 and the Dukes were forced to punt two downs later.

For Phillips it is his second career NEC Defensive Player of the Week accolade with the first coming following his performance in Wagner's 27-21 victory over Sacred Heart on November 5, 2011.

Tickets for this weekend's game are $10 and can be purchased by calling the ticket office at (718) 420-4039.

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Photography by Dave Saffran