Aug. 31, 2007
Final Stats
Danbury, CT - Senior running back Jason Butler (Syracuse, NY / Henninger) ran for a career-high 139 yards on 27 carries and hauled in a career-long 78-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter to lift Wagner to a 20-7 season-opening win at Western Connecticut State. The win marked the 180th in head coach Walt Hameline's illustrious 27-year career.
Wagner struck first in the opening stanza as freshman fullback Richard Parker (Corona, NY / Hargrave) scored his first collegiate touchdown on a four-yard scamper with 6:21 to go after Butler did the grunt work on the drive rushing for 43 yards, including a 31-yard scamper to set up Parker's touchdown.
The Seahawks' defense then forced a three and out before the Wagner offense went back to work. The Green & White marched 72 yards on seven plays to the Western Conn. State three-yard line before an untimely fumble gave the ball back to the Colonials.
After the defense held Western Conn. State to another three and out, the Seahawks took over on their own 38 yard line and junior QB Matt Abbey (La Canada, CA / St. Francis) hooked up with sophomore wide receiver Lon Woods (St. Petersburg, FL / J.P. Taravella) on a 30-yard pass play to the Colonial eight yard line. That play set up a Piotr Czech (Sr., Keyport, NJ / Keyport) 27 yard field goal with 12:56 left in the half.
Another three and out gave Wagner excellent field position as the Green & White started at the Western Connecticut 43. Butler ran for 21 yards to the Colonials' 22 to set up Czech's second field goal, this time from 35 yards out, to make it 13-0 Wagner. Western Conn. State then mounted their biggest drive of the half, going 72 yards on 12 plays to the Wagner three. Following a false start on fourth and goal, the Colonials' fake field goal attempt found the hands of senior cornerback Al Phillips (Hialeah, FL / American) in the back of the end zone for his 11th career interception.
In the first half, Butler ran for 98 yards on 15 carries while Abbey went 8-12 for 125 yards in the air, connecting with Woods on three passes for 88 yards.
Following the halftime intermission, both defenses stole the spotlight in the third quarter. The Western Connecticut defense limited Wagner to just one first down while the Seahawks surrendered just one new set of downs to the Colonials. Senior linebacker Bryan Brand (Placerville, CA / Santa Barbara CC) had six and a half tackles while junior defensive end Adrian Adderley (Carver Ranches, FL / MSGR Pace) added three and a half stops during the impressive third quarter defensive stand.
Western Conn. State strung together an impressive 11-play 84 yard drive over 4:51 to cut the lead to 13-7 with 4:16 to go in the game.
Needing a counter-punch, Wagner turned to Butler yet again. The senior picked up Wagner's second first down of the second half before dashing the Colonials' hope with a 78-yard touchdown off a screen pass on third-and-11 from Abbey, combined with a Czech extra point, to put the game away.
This win against Western Connecticut State extended Wagner's non-conference winning streak to five games and was the first against the Colonials since the Seahawks' National Championship season of 1987.
Wagner will look to move to 2-0 for the sixth straight season when the Seahawks travel to Iona on Saturday, Sept. 8. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm.
