Oct. 22, 2005
Box Score
Staten Island, NY (October 22, 2005) - The Wagner College football team fell short in a comeback attempt in a 38-34 loss to visiting to Central Connecticut St on homecoming earlier this afternoon at Wagner Stadium. The Seahawks slip to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the Northeast Conference, while CCSU jumps to 5-3 overall and 3-1 NEC.
Wagner fell behind 36-14 with 11 minutes left in the game, before roaring back to pull within two points (36-34) on a seven yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback John Sciarra (La Canada, CA/St. Francis) who found junior wide out Chris Turner (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) with two second left to play. The rally fell short however as the Seahawks 2-point conversion attempt was intercepted by the Blue Devils Anthony Wilson and return 100 yards to produce the final outcome.
Sciarra would complete his record setting day by setting new Wagner marks of 33 completions on 58 attempts for 409 yards to go along with four touchdown passes. Turner also established new Wagner marks catching all four of the touchdowns, breaking his own record of three, which give him 22 for his career passing Daryn Plummer's previous school record of 21.
CCSU jumped out to an early and would take a 17-0 lead into the locker room. The Blue Devils first got on the board as they scored on a three-yard run by Jo Jo Freeman at the 8:48 mark to make the score 7-0. Following a Wagner punt the Blue Devils went up 14-0 after mounting an 11 play, 57 yard drive, culminating with Sheard hitting Bergeski for a 25 yard touchdown on third and one. Place kicker Derek Pearson then closed out the first half with a 37-yard field goal to put the Blue Devils up 17-0.
Wagner finally dented the scoreboard on a 28 yard touchdown pass from Sciarra to Turner, making the score 17-7. That play came on the heels of a 37 yard pass from Sciarra to senior Shaun Grover (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire), who also a career day catching the football. Grover set new personal highs with 12 catches for 186 yards, but had his streak of eight consecutive games with a touchdown receptions snapped.
CCSU would capitalize on a third down face mask penalty and on the next play scored on a 62-yard touchdown pass from Sheard to Andre Smith with 4:03 remaining in the third to make the score 23-7 as the extra point was no good.
Wagner would answer with 1:46 remaining in the third as the duo of Sciarra and Turner hooked up again for the second touchdown of the day on a four yard pass to make the score 23-14. CCSU continued to rollup the points however as Sheard and Bergeski hooked up for their second score of the game on a 40 yard touchdown pass to make the score 29-14 with 14:49 remaining in the game as Pearson hooked the extra point wide.
The Blue Devils would then go up 36-14 on their next possession as QB Aubrey Norris found Matt Gomes in the back of the end zone for an 11 yard touchdown pass with 11:11 remaining.
The Seahawks would start the rally as Turner hauled in his third touchdown of the game on a 10 yard strike from Sciarra to make the score 36-21. After forcing a Blue Devil punt, Sciarra would drove the team the team down the field before scoring from one yard out on a quarterback keeper to make the score 36-28. The Wagner defense then held once again to set up their final scoring drive.
Sheard finished the day with 205 yards passing and three scores. Bergeski had 99 yards in the air and the pair of touchdowns. Wagner surrendered a season-high 488 yards of total offense and were out rushed 220-39 on the ground. The Seahawks also committed three turnovers on the day, including two inside the CCSU 20 yard line. Senior Ryan Layton (Wilminton, MA / Malden Catholic) led the Wagner defense with 14 tackles (7 solo). Wagner will return to action next Saturday, Oct. 29 when they host Albany.
Grover was named the winner of the James A Robb Memorial Trophy given to the outstanding offense player at homecoming, while Layton earned the Lt. Nick Lia Memorial Trophy given to the outstanding defensive player.
