Sept. 15, 2007
Final Stats
Staten Island, NY - Wagner (2-1) turned a pair of turnovers into a pair of quick-strike touchdowns and blocked a punt in the end zone, resulting in a third TD, in registering a 24-14 Homecoming Day non-conference victory over Marist (0-3) at a blustery Wagner College Stadium.
It was a festive day on Grymes Hill as cloudy, damp conditions gave way to sunny skies, which made for a perfect back drop on this day of celebration. In addition to the all of the trappings that go along with Homecoming, Wagner honored the 1967 football team on the 40th anniversary of its undefeated season and six new members of the College's Athletics Hall of Fame were honored in a half-time ceremony.
After senior kicker Piotr Czech (Keypost, NJ/ Keyport) gave Wagner an early 3-0 first quarter lead, junior DB Dario Charlton (Lauderhill, FL/ South Plantation) corralled a Mike McGrath pass that had bounced off the hands of Marist WR Will Brown, returning the interception 17 yards to Red Foxes' 29-yard line. On the second play following the INT, Wagner junior QB Matt Abbey (La Canada, CA)hit senior WR Joe Kinard (Kingston, NY)on a 29-yard strike in the end zone to stake the Seahawks to a 10-0 halftime lead.
Wagner struck for a pair of TDs within the first four minutes of the third quarter to build an insurmountable 24-0 lead. After holding Wagner to a three-and-out on the first possession of the second half, Marist was set to get the ball in decent position when Brown mishandled a Czech punt and the opportunistic graduate student long snapper Tyler Linehan (Planville, MD/ Bishop Freehan) pounced on the ball at the Red Foxes' 39-yard line. On the very next play, Abbey went up top, finding sophomore WR Lon Woods (St. Petersburg, FL/ J.P. Taravella) all alone at the five-yard line. Woods then eluded a would-be tackler and scampered into the end zone to give the Seahawks a commanding 17-0 lead following the PAT.
With 12:31 remaining in the third quarter, Czech, one of the nation's top kickers and punters and a preseason First-Team Northeast Conference selection, had a towering 39-yard punt downed by senior DB Al Phillips (Hialeah, FL/ American) at the Marist one-yard line. After a quick three-and-out, freshman LB Frantz Placide (Miami, FL/ Archbishop Curley) blocked a Bradley Rowe punt which was recovered by redshirt freshman FB Keith Heaney (Lincroft, NJ/ Middletown South) in the end zone for the TD that gave Wagner the 24-0 lead.
Marist would score two TDs in the final 6:11 of the game to narrow the margin. A one-yard run by fullback Ray Fiumfreddo made it 24-6 but the extra point was wide. McGrath then tossed a 13-yard TD pass to WR Daniel Dulac. McGrath hit Brown in the end zone on the two-point attempt to fashion the final score at 24-14.
Senior RB Jason Butler (Syracuse, NY/ Henninger) hit the century mark for the third game in a row on the ground. Butler, who has rushed for 139 and 134 yards vs. Western Conn. State and Iona, respectively, finished with exactly 100 hard-fought yards rushing on 24 carries. The Marist defense did a terrific job bottling up Butler for most of the game as he had just 18 yards on 12 carries through the first three quarters. A 33-yard fourth quarter jaunt was the big run on his way to his fourth career100-yard game.
Abbey completed 12-of-26 passes for 145 yards and the two TDs. Woods led the receiving department with three catches for 63 yards and a TD. McGrath completed 16-of-40 passes for 170 yards, two touchdowns and was intercepted twice. Wagner, meanwhile, played turnover-free football.
Defensively, LB Bryan Brand (Placerville, CA ) led the Seahawks with 12 tackles, including five solo stops. For his efforts, he was awarded the Nick Lia Memorial Trophy, given to the Seahawks outstanding defensive player, for the second consecutive season.
In a magnanimous gesture in the locker room after the game, Brand gave his trophy to his teammate and fellow senior, Al Phillips (Hialeah, FL/ American) . "I already have a trophy and I felt Al deserved it, he played a great game," said the selfless Brand.
"That was very nice of Bryan," said Phillips. "He's a great teammate."
Wagner's outstanding offensive award, the James Robb Memorial Trophy, was given to Butler.
Following a bye week, Wagner will next be in action on Sat., Sept. 29 when the Seahawks host Sacred Heart in their NEC opener. Kickoff at Wagner College Stadium is set for 1:00 pm.
