Sept. 30, 2006
Box Score
Fairfield, CT - The Wagner College Seahawks bid for a 5-0 record was halted today at the hands of the Sacred Heart Pioneers, 25-17 in a back and forth battle that saw Wagner's record fall to 4-1, 0-1 in their Northeast Conference opener. Meanwhile the Pioneers improve to 2-3, 1-0.
Matt Abbey (LaCanada, CA/St. Francis HS) was intercepted on the games final play by JJ Wilson as the Green & White attempted a late game comeback. Wagner found themselves in that deficit after the Pioneer offense ran off 10 unanswered points in the second half. Sacred Heart took the lead for good when Steve Tedesco returned a Piotr Czech (Keyport, NJ/Keyport) punt 45 yards to the Wagner 28. That set up a Joe Schroeder field goal putting the home team up one at 18-17.
The Seahawks began to rally as Abbey connected with Chris Turner (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) on a 12 yard route during the third quarter. The grab for Turner was his sixth of the game and with that catch gave him all time record for receptions in a career at Wagner. Turner finished with 10 grabs for 170 yards and two scores. With the 10 catches he now has 186 for his career.
The scoring was halted until the fourth quarter when Jason Payne broke off a 58 yard run down to the Wagner 12 yard line. This set up a Tyler Arciaga pass to Justin Jarry for a 12 yard score and with the point after, Sacred Heart led 25-17.
The two teams had traded punts early on before Wagner got on the board late in the first quarter when Abbey who passed for a career high 305 yards and two scores connected with
Chris Turner on a 65 yard touchdown reception. The bobbling 65 yard reception was the longest of Turner's illustrious career topping the 64 yard catch he made a week ago against St. Peter's. The point after was good and Wagner led 7-0.
The Sacred Heart offense wasted no time working their way down field on a 53 yard kick return by Evin Jones following the Turner score. The Wagner defense held on a 1st and goal scenario forcing a field goal attempt by the Pioneers. The Seahawks then committed a penalty allowing a new set of downs for Sacred Heart. Again the Wagner defense held forcing a field goal by Nick Passalacqua to bring the host Pioneers within four points at 7-3. The Wagner defense has still yet to allow a rushing touchdown in 2006.
Just minutes later the Pioneer offense was back on the field following a punt return into Wagner territory. From there graduate student quarterback Tyler Arciaga hooked up with Corey Bundy on a 26 yard scoring strike to give the Pioneers their first lead of the afternoon. The point after by Passalacqua was no good giving Sacred Heart just a two point advantage at 9-7.
Wagner refused to quit when on the ensuing kickoff Al Phillips (Hialeah, FL/American) raced the ball into Sacred Heart territory. From there it was Abbey to Turner again this time for 40 yards, the point after was good and Wagner was back in the lead 14-9. The Pioneer offense would not relent answering the bell on their very next possession when a four play, 76 yard drive resulted in Arciaga again to Bundy for 45 yards and a score. Again the point after went awry and Sacred Heart held just a one point lead at 15-14.
The Seahawks then staged an epic 14 play, 56 yard drive that consumed the final 3:02 of the first half. The drive ended on a mammoth 54 yard field goal off the foot of Piotr Czech. Czech's field goal broke the old record for longest field goal in Wagner and Northeast Conference history of 50 yards set by Blake Abbott back in the 2001 season. The kick also gave the Green & White the lead back at 17-15 headed into the locker room. That however was the last time Wagner would lead in the game.
The rushing game for Wagner was noble in defeat at Jason Butler (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) tallied 76 yards on 15 carries. Defensively Bryan Brand (Placerville, CA/Santa Barbara) recorded nine tackles and forced a fumble. Tavares Lee (Miami, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas and Ein Williams (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) also answered the call defensively with eight tackles apiece.
The Green & White are next in action this Saturday when they play host to Robert Morris at Wagner College Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm.
