Sept. 24, 2005
Final Stats
Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College football team was handed their first loss of the season by visiting Marist College, 38-21 earlier this afternoon at Wagner Stadium. The defeat stops a three game winning streak for the Seahawks, as they now stand at 3-1 overall, while the Red Foxes win their third straight by improving to 3-1 on the year.
Marist sophomore running back Obozua Ehikioya dominated the game with 145 rushing yards and three touchdowns as the Red Foxes held a 40:51-19:09 advantage in time of possession. The Seahawks meanwhile were snake bitten by four turnovers, including three interceptions. Wagner senior quarterback John Sciarra (La Canada, CA / St. Francis / UCLA) paced the offense with 324 yards through the air on 26-44 passing to go along with three touchdown passes and the three interceptions.
The Red Foxes struck first with a 13 play 65 yard drive that gave them a 7-0 lead with a minute to play in the first quarter. On the ensuing Wagner possession, a pass attempt by Sciarra slipped through the hand s of the intended receiver and was picked off by Andrew Sperl. Sperl would make a 19 yard return down to the 12 yards line setting up another TD run for Ehikioya that gave the Red Foxes a 14-0 lead with 30 second left in the opening quarter.
After a three and out by the Seahawks to start the second quarter, Marist drove down the field again, but Ehikioya was stuffed for no gain on fourth and goal from the one yard line. The Red Foxes would then miss another scoring opportunity in the quarter when Bradley Rowe's 31 yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
Sciarra would then march Wagner down the field, finally hooking up with senior Mike Malik (Warren, RI / La Salle Academy) from 26 yards out with seven second left before intermission to make the score 14-7, Marist.
Wagner forced a Marist punt on the first drive of the second half, but gave the ball right back again on their possession. Sciarra was credited with his second interception of the game when another pass went through the receiver's hand and found a Marist defender, this time at the Marist 40 yard line. Rowe would then tack on a 36 yard field goal eight plays later for a 17-7 Red Fox advantage.
The Seahawks would then fall behind 24-7 when QB James Luft tossed a 29 yard pass to Guy Smith on the first play of the fourth quarter. Sciarra was picked off again three plays into the Wagner possession by Huck Correia, who made a 31 yard return down to the Wagner five. Ehikioya would then score his third TD of the game on the next play as Marist went on top 31-7.
Wagner would make it 31-14 on a 14 yard TD pass from Sciarra to senior Shaun Grover (Cheshire, CT / Cheshire), marking his fifth straight game with a TD reception dating back to last season. Following a failed onside kick attempt by the Seahawks, Marist stuck again on a 30 yard Luft pass to Tim Keegan that gave the visitors a 38-14 advantage. The Seahawks then ended the scoring with a late seven yard TD pass from Sciarra to junior Chris Turner (Syracuse, NY / Henninger), to produce the final margin. Turner would finish his day with nine catches for 83 yards to lead the Wagner receivers.
The Red Foxes held a huge advantage on the ground rushing for 224 yards while holding Wagner to 39 yards. The Seahawks also committed a season high 11 penalties for 103 yards.
Senior LB Craig Romano (Syracuse, NY / Bridgton Academy) led Wagner with 14 stops on the day.
The Seahawks return to action at home on October 1st vs Sacred Heart.
