Oct. 28, 2006

Box Score

Albany, NY - Wagner saw their longest losing streak since 1978 extended to five on a windy and rainy day following a 34-0 loss to the University of Albany at University Field. Wagner slips to 4-5 overall and 0-5 in the Northeast Conference with their first shutout loss 2003 when Monmouth won 24-0. The Great Danes are now 6-3 and move to 4-1 in the NEC with their second-straight shutout win.

Wagner was outgained 382-140 and had no third down conversions on 11 attempts compared to the Great Danes, who were 9-15. Both teams had problems hanging onto the ball as each team committed four turnovers.

The Seahawks had a chance to score early on following an interception by senior Azim Ross (Washington, DC / Gonzaga). Wagner drove it down to the Albany 35 before junior kicker Piotr Czech (Keyport, NJ / Keyport) missed a 52 year field goal that had a lot of leg but was wide left.

In the first quarter, Omar Johnson hit paydirt with a three yard touchdown run with 1:03 remaining to cap an eight-play 36 yard drive that spanned 3:24. The Great Danes got great field position after Wagner went three and out from inside their own five-yard line. Wagner had another chance to score in the first half as junior Joe Kinard (Kingston, NY / Kingston) recovered an Albany fumble at the Great Danes' 23-yard line in the second period. However the drive stalled at the Albany 15 when sophomore Matt Abbey's (La Canada, CA / St. Francis) pass was batted down at the line on fourth and four.

Albany padded their lead in the second as Marcus Allen had a seven-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 following the extra point as the Great Danes used a nine play 83 yard drive that took 4:11.

After an Abbey interception Albany quickly took advantage as Johnson scored his second touchdown to put the Great Danes up 21-0 with 3:44 to go in the second quarter. Albany kicker Jason Fralicker then kicked a 31 yard field goal with 40 seconds remaining in the second to put the home team up 24-0 at the half.

In the third period there was little action as Fralicker scored three points on a 39 yard field goal with 4:49 to go to make it 27-0.

Albany then closed out the scoring on a defensive score when Trevor DuPont intercepted an Abbey pass and returned it 22 yards to make it 34-0 with 12:35 in the game.

For Wagner, junior Jason Butler (Syracuse, NY / Henninger) led the way with a game-high 98 yards on 22 carries. Senior WR Chris Turner (Syracuse, NY / Henninger) caught just two passes for 10 yards as a stiff wind hindered both teams' passing games. Abbey was 5-16 for 21 yards on a day in which the weather basically made it a ground game.

Czech had another solid day punting with eight punts for a 31.1 yard average.

Senior Thomas Larsen (Brooklyn, NY / Fort Hamilton) led the Wagner defense with 10 tackles (six solo) and one forced fumble. Ross also added 9.5 (seven solo), to go along with one interception, and senior Ein Williams (Neptune, NJ / Neptune) had 7.5 tackles (four solo) and a fumble recovery to round out the standouts on defense.

Wagner returns home for senior day when the Green & White face Stony Brook on Saturday, November, 4 at 1 pm.