FINAL STATS
STATEN ISLAND, NY – Robert Morris parlayed six Wagner turnovers, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and a third which set up a 14-yard touchdown drive, into a 35-3 Northeast Conference victory over the Seahawks at rainy and windswept Wagner College Stadium.
The Seahawks outgained the Colonials 374-198, led in rushing yards 182-72, and in time of possession 35:46-23:06, but could not overcome the six-turnover differential. Wagner falls to 3-5, 1-3 in the BEC while Robert Morris improves to 3-5, 2-2 in league play.
Robert Morris DB Rolf Bathold intercepted a pass thrown by Wagner QB Matt Abbey (La Canada, CA/ St. Francis) and returned it up the right sideline 65 yards to give the Colonials a 7-0 lead with 5:02 left in the first quarter. After senior K Eric Ortiz (Oceanside, CA/ Vista) hit a 29-yard field goal to make it 7-3, Robert Morris reeled off a pair of touchdowns in the final 2:57 of the first half to seize a 21-3 halftime lead.
RMU QB Erik Cwalinksi capped an eight-play, 82-yard drive with a 19-yard TD pass to TE Shadrae King to make it 14-3. With 1:11 left in the first half, Ortiz missed a 45-yard field goal. RMU then went 72 yards in just four plays, highlighted by a 54-yard hook-up from Cwalinski to WR Sherrod Evers. The 54-yard aerial set up set up another Cawlinski to King TD connection, this one a seven-yarder with 37 seconds left in the half.
Trailing 21-3, Wagner was on the move when RMU DB Michael Landers scooped up a fumble WR Kyle Trueblood (Edison, NJ/ JP Stevens) and weaved his way 59 yards for a TD that put the Colonials up 28-3 with 11:48 left in the third quarter. Later in the quarter, Landers recovered another Trueblood fumble and returned this one 54 yards to the Seahawk 14-yard line,setting up a two-yard TD run by RB Myles Rush which made it 35-3 with 8:18 left in the third quarter.
Cwalinksi was 11-of-22 passing for 126 yards while Russ, who came in with over 900 yards rushing on the season, was held to 39 yards on 13 carries. Abbey was 21-of-40 passing for 192 yards. Sophomore TE Morgan Mizell (Mount Vernon, NY/ Fordham Prep) had a career-high four catches for 29 yards.
The game marked the return to the lineup of Seahawk freshman RB Prince Young (Neptune, NJ/ Fork Union) who suffered an elbow injury vs. Marist back on Sept. 19. Young showed little rust in gaining 74 yards on 14 carries. Junior RB Shane Smith (Susquehanna, PA/ Milford), who returned from a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury last week at Saint Francis (PA), led all rushers with 94 yards on 20 carries.
Sophomore DB Frantz Placide (Miami, FL/ Archbishop Curley Notre Dame) had a career-high nine tackles while senior LB Jason Haskins (Cliffwood Beach, NJ/ Kean Univ.) added six stops.
Wagner is next in action on Friday, Oct. 31 when they travel to New Britain, CT to meet Sacred Heart in a 7:00 pm kickoff in a game that will be televised live locally on MSG-plus and to a national audience on Fox College Sports Atlantic.
