Oct. 29, 2005

Box Score

Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College football team was out rushed 288 to (-3) earlier this afternoon in a 38-10 loss to the visiting University at Albany in Northeast Conference (NEC) action at Wagner College Stadium. The Seahawks lost their second straight while sliding to 5-4 overall and 2-3 NEC, as the Great Danes won their third straight, jumping to 3-5; 3-2 NEC.

Albany's Omar Johnson was the star of the game with a career best 121 yards on 20 carries to go along with three touchdowns. For Wagner, senior QB John Sciarra (La Canada, CA / St. Francis HS / UCLA) completed 29 passes to six different receivers, but threw for a season low 234 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions.

The Seahawks fell behind by two touchdowns in the first half for the third straight game as the Great Danes took an early 14-0 advantage. In the first quarter, Marcus Allen scampered for 17 of his 97 yards on the ground taking a pitch into the endzone at the 8:47 mark. Johnson then scored his first TD of the afternoon early in the second quarter on a four yard dive with 13:28 left in the first half.

Sophomore Piotr Czech (Keyport, NJ / Keyport) finally put Wagner on the board with a 22 yard field to make the score 14-3 with 1:58 remaining before the break. Czech converted after the offense's 10 play drive stalled on fourth and one from the Albany six.

The second half was more Albany as they extend the lead to 28-3 with a pair of third quarter touchdown runs by Johnson. With the Seahawks set to receive the second half kickoff, the Great Danes regained possession with an onside kick to start the half. Johnson first ended a nine play 47 yard drive coving 3:45 with a one yard run at 11:08, then finished off a 13 play 90 yard drive over 6:54 with a nine yard dash.

The deficit continued to grow at the start of the fourth, as Rob Wood hit a field goal from 32 yards out with 13:00 left in the game.

Finally junior Chris Turner (Syracuse, NY / Henninger) put Wagner back on the board pulling in a two yard TD pass he tipped up to himself from Sciarra. Turner's 10th touchdown reception of the year came with 9:25 left and put the Seahawks down 31-10.

Eric Neugebauer capped off the scoring with a 39 yard interception return off a Sciarra pass to produce the final outcome. Albany held a 36:37 to 23:23 advantage in time of possession, including a 20:48 clip in the second half.

Wagner player without senior Shaun Grover (Cheshire, CT / Cheshire), who led the NCAA 1-AA in total receptions heading into the game. Grover was forced to sit out after suffering an injury during the opening series. In his absence senior Mike Malik (Warren, RI / La Salle Academy) hauled in a game and career high nine passes for 59 yards. Senior Craig Romano (Syracuse, NY / Solvay) recorded his fifth double digit tackle game of the season posing a game high 17 (six solo) to go along with a pass breakup.

The Seahawks return to action next Saturday when they travel to Stony Brook for a 1:00 pm game.

~wagnerathletics.com~