Oct. 10, 2005

Final Stats

Staten Island, NY - The Wagner football team suffered a 38-30 loss at host Robert Morris earlier this afternon at Joe Walton Stadium. The win improved RMU to 2-3 overall on the 2005 campaign, including 1-1 in NEC play, while the Seahawks fell to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in league action.

Wagner received a career best 10 catch 151 yard day from senior wideout Shaun Grover, who became Wagner's all time receptions leader in the contest. Grover now has 149 catches for his career passing Jason Bain's (1997-00) previous mark of 142.

Wagner opened the game with a six-play, 60-yard drive to take a quick 7-0 lead when Marcus Wilson scampered 37 yards for a touchdown at the 12:36 mark of the first quarter. The Seahawks held the advantage until late in the first quarter when senior quarterback Drew Geyer found senior flanker Rob Meyer wide open in the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown pass. The play was a flea flicker, as Geyer pitched the ball to senior halfback Devin Wilson before receiving it back, then finding Meyer for the score.

Wagner was able to take a 14-7 lead in the second quarter on a four-yard run from Wilson, but RMU scored the next 10 points to take a 17-14 lead with 4:26 left before halftime. Junior placekicker Nathan DiLorenzo converted a 30-yard field goal to pull RMU within 14-10, and then Wilson's 20-yard scamper gave the Colonials a 17-14 lead. The Seahawks were able to send the game into the locker room tied at the half when Piotr Czech converted a 28-yard field goal to knot the score at 17.

In the third quarter Robert Morris opened a 24-17 lead when sophomore fullback Rion Listhrop capped a six-play, 56-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The score remained that way until early in the fourth quarter, when senior Tyjuan Massey scored on a 24-yard touchdown run on an end around to give RMU a 31-17 advantage. The drive was set up by the Colonial defense, as senior linebacker James Noel forced a turnover on Wagner's Shaun Grover after a seven-yard completion from Seahawk quarterback John Sciarra. Senior defensive lineman Jason Forrest recovered the ball for Robert Morris on the Wagner 27-yard line, giving the Colonials good field position.

The RMU defense came up big again on Wagner's next possession, as junior linebacker Jeff Rommes intercepted Sciarra at the Wagner 25-yard line, setting the Colonials up with good field position again. Robert Morris would capitalize, as Wilson scored from one yard out to give RMU a 38-17 lead with 11:50 to play.

Wagner wouldn't fold, however, as Sciarra directed the Seahawks on drives of 67 and 86 yards to help close their deficit to eight, 38-30, with 4:45 to go. Sciarra connected with Grover on a 10-yard touchdown pass to pull Wagner within 38-23 after the extra point failed, then he scored from a yard out to close the gap to 38-30. During the two drives Sciarra completed five of his nine passing attempts for 144 yards.

The Seahawks tried to tie the game with less than four minutes to play, as Sciarra drove Wagner down to the RMU 19-yard line, but he was picked off for the second time of the afternoon by junior strong safety Brian Pruitt at the Seahawk four-yard line. One play earlier Sciarra tossed a would be touchdown pass to Chris Turner, but the play was called back due to an ineligible receiver down field.

Wilson finished with 119 yards rushing on 31 carries and two touchdowns in the win for the Colonials, while Geyer completed 12 of his 28 passing attempts for 168 yards and a score. Massey finished as Geyer's favorite target, finishing with four catches for 52 yards. Massey finished with 162 all-purpose yards on the afternoon thanks to a rush for 24 yards, two punt returns for three yards and four kickoffs for 83 yards.

Sciarra finished 19-for-43 passing for 301 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions for Wagner, while Grover notched 10 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown. Marcus Wilson finished with 98 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 21 carries, an average of 4.7 yards per rush.

The Seahawks are now 0-6 all time on the road against Robert Morris. They return to action next week at Monmouth for a 1:00 pm start.