FINAL STATS

New Britain, CT – The Wagner College football team trailed 14-7 at the half and drew to within 14-10 midway through the third quarter before Central Connecticut State pulled away with 21 unanswered points over the final 20:21 of the game in posting a 35-10 victory in the Northeast Conference opener for both teams.

With the loss, the Seahawks fall to 2-3 on the season while the Blue Devils improve to 4-1.
Playing without injured running backs Prince Young (Neptune, NJ/ Fork Union) and Shane Smith (Susquehanna, PA/ Milford), Wagner received a spark from freshman RB Ryan Middleton (Winter Garden, FL/ West Orange), who ran for a game-high 86 yards in just seven carries.

Two first half turnovers proved to be Wagner's undoing early and led to two Central Connecticut touchdowns as Wagner found itself in a 14-0 hole. An interception by junior QB Adam Farnsworth(North Ogden, UT/ Univ. of Iowa,) on a pass that bounced off the hands of freshman WR David Crawford (Carrollton, TX/ Hebron), led to a CCSU two-play, 35-yard drive that was capped by an 18-yard TD pass from QB Aubrey Norris to WR Jermaine Roberts.

On Wagner's ensuing drive, Middleton ripped off runs of 15 and 11 yards to key a march that moved the ball inside the CCSU 15-yard line. But on first-and-10 from the Blue Devil 14-yard line, Middleton fumbled a handoff from Farnsworth which was recovered by CCSU DB Michael Bailey.

After an exchange of punts, CCSU put together a quick-strike five-play, 60-yard drive that took just 2:18 and was highlighted by a 19-yard TD pass from QB Hunter Wanket to WR Tyler Rossnagle, a score that staked the Blue Devils to a 14-0 lead with 2:04 left in the first quarter. Wagner responded with a crisp 10-play, 70-yard march. A 20-yard completion from Farnsworth to sophomore WR Tyrone Collins (Geneva NY/ Geneva) set up a seven-yard TD pass from Farnsworth to sophomore TE Morgan Mizell (Mount Vernon, NY/ Fordham Prep) that cut the deficit to 14-7.

Farnsworth was shaken up later in the second quarter and did not return. He was replaced by senior QB Matt Abbey (La Canada, CA/ St. Francis) who led Wagner on an impressive drive right out of the gate. Wagner took over at the CCSU 36-yard line with 50 seconds left in the half and had an opportunity to put more points on the board as Abbey hit four straight passes, the last of which was an eight-yarder to Collins that made it second-and-goal from the Blue Devil five-yard line. Collins, however, was tackled inbounds which kept the clock running. With no timeouts remaining, Wagner hustled up to the line of scrimmage to attempt a spike and a field goal but time expired before the Seahawks could snap the ball.
Undaunted, Wagner took the opening kickoff of the second half and, with Abbey at the controls, promptly marched 77 yards in nine plays, keyed by a 45-yard run by Middleton that set up a 29-yard field by senior Eric Ortiz (Oceanside, CA/ Vista) that drew the Seahawks to within 14-10 with 10:09 left in the third quarter. CCSU answered with a 10-play 70-yard TD drive with fullback Josh Vargas taking it over from the one on fourth-and-goal to build a 21-10 lead with 5:10 left in the third quarter.

The Blue Devils would tack on a pair of fourth-quarter TDs on a 16-yard reverse by Roberts and a 69-yard pass from Norris to WR Nick Colagiovanni.

The statistics were much closer than the final score would indicate. CCSU out-gained Wagner 414-331 and led in first downs by a scant 18-17 margin. Wagner did a fine defensive job on CCSU senior RB Jerome Mallory who came into the game with four straight 100-yard plus games but was held to 75 yards on 23 carries. Wanket completed 4-of-8 passes for 71 yards while Norris was 4-of-4 for 71 yards.

Collins turned in a magnificent day, recording career highs with 10 receptions for 93 yards. Junior WR Lon Woods (St. Petersburg, FL/ J.P. Taravella) also turned in a fine effort with seven catches for 72 yards. Farnsworth was 13-of-20 passing for 130 yards, one TD and INT while Abbey completed 11of-22 for 102 yards. Junior punter Kyle Muir (Spencerport, NY/ Syracuse Univ.) had a fine afternoon, averaging 38.3 yards on six punts, two of which were downed inside the CCSU 20-yard line.

Senior DT Adrian Adderley (Carver Ranches, FL. Monsignor Pace), and senior LBs Jason Haskins (Cliffwood Beach, NJ/ Kean Univ.) and Jeremy Spinks (Tampa, FL/ Chamberlain) recorded nine tackles apiece to lead the Seahawks defensively.

Sophomore DB Alondre Rush had a game-high 10 tackles for the Blue Devils. Senior DE Ernie Greywacz added a sack and an interception for the Central Connecticut defense.

Wagner is next in action on Sat., Oct. 11 when the Seahawks host Monmouth University at 1:00 pm.