Oct. 7, 2006

Final Stats

Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College Seahawks faced a first goal from the two yard line in the closing minute, but were kept from scoring by a Robert Morris goal line stand in a 14-10 loss at Wagner Stadium this afternoon. The defeat slips Wagner to 4-2 overall and 0-2 in the Northeast Conference as the Colonials win their fourth straight moving to 4-2 and 2-0 in the NEC.

Running back Jason Butler (Syracuse, NY / Henninger) helped bring the Seahawks down inside the five on the final drive with 53 of his game and career high 101 rushing yards. Trailing by four, Wagner took over after a punt on its own 27 yard line. Seven rushes by Butler sandwiched by a pair of completions from sophomore QB Matt Abbey (La Canada, CA / St. Francis) placed Wagner inside the 10.

Senior WR Chris Turner (Syracuse, NY / Henninger) then drew a pass interference penalty giving the Seahawks a first and goal at the two. Butler brought the ball down inside the one on first down. On second down Abbey's QB sneak was stuffed, before Butler lost four yards on third down. One last chance for Wagner saw Abbey rollout of the pocket and keep it himself only to be forced out a few feet shot of the pylon.

Wagner took the first lead of the game on a 39 yard field goal from junior Piotr Czech (Keyport, NJ / Keyport) six minutes into the second quarter. Czech, the reigning NEC Special Teams Player of the Week, was put into position after an interception from junior Al Phillips (Hialeah, FL / American) at the RMU 29 yard line.

The Colonials answered right back taking a 7-3 lead with a 10 play 67 yard drive that commenced with a 13 yard touchdown pass from Erik Cwalinski to Jarvis Powers at 4:06 in the second.

After Wagner was forced to punt on its first possession of the second half, RMU drove the field again as Cwalinski put the Colonials up 14-3 with an 18 yard scoring pass to Jarvis Powers.

With two minutes on the clock in the third quarter the Seahawks put themselves in scoring position when sophomore Adrian Adderly (Carver Ranches, FL / MSGR Pace) forced a fumble that was recovered at the RMU 24 yard line. Abbey, who had completed just three passes in the game up to this point, wasted little time lofting a touchdown pass to freshman WR Lon Woods (Tamarac, FL / JP Taravella). The play was then negated by a Wagner holding penalty backing the Seahawks up to the 34 yard line. On the next play Abbey hooked up with Woods again, but this time it counted as the freshman registered his first career TD reception and Wagner closed the gap to 14-10 with 1:45 remaining in the third setting up the last minute excitement.

One week after Abbey tossed for a career high 305 yards he struggled completing just 7 of 25 for 98 yards and two interceptions but found six different receivers on the day. Cwalinski was 19-31 for 186 yards, tossing the pair of scores to Jarvis Powers who had six catches for 69 yards.

Thomas Larsen had 11 tackles and recovered two fumbles

Senior Thomas Larsen (Brooklyn, NY / Fort Hamilton) and junior Bryan Brand (Placerville, CA / Santa Barbara CC) led the Seahawks with 11 tackles each. Larsen also recovered a pair of fumbles on the day as the Wagner defense forced five RMU turnovers (4 fumbles, 1 INT). Mike Nikols had a pair of INTs for RMU while recovering one fumble and forcing another to go with his six stops.

Wagner is home again next weekend as they host Monmouth in a 1:00 pm contest.

~ wagnerathletics.com ~