FINAL STATS

STATEN ISLAND, NY – Led by the dynamic backfield tandem of junior Shane Smith (Susquehanna, PA/ Milford Academy) and freshman Prince Young (Neptune, NJ/ Fork Union Academy), who ran for 174 and 128 yards respectively, Wagner (1-1) erased an early 7-0 deficit by scoring 38 unanswered points en route to a 45-28 Homecoming Day win over Iona (1-1). 

A first quarter bad snap that sailed over the head of Wagner punter Kyle Muir (Spencerport, NY/ Syracuse Univ.) set up a three-play, 18-yard Iona TD drive, capped by a three-yard run by Craig Sutera that gave the Gaels a 7-0 lead. Wagner countered on the ensuing kickoff as sophomore Tyrone Collins (Geneva, NY/ Geneva) scampered up the left sideline 86 yards for a TD that knotted the game at 7-7. 

Young capped an impressive 11-play, 80-yard drive with 1:48 left in the first quarter with an 11-yard TD jaunt that gave the Seahawks the lead for good at 14-7. Junior QB Adam Farnsworth (North Ogden, UT/ Univ. of Iowa) scored on a one-yard run to cap another impressive drive, this one an 80-yarder on 10 plays, which gave the Seahawks a 21-7 lead. 

Farnsworth then connected with junior WR Lon Woods (St. Petersburg, FL/ J.P. Taravella) on a 14-yard TD strike that staked Wagner to a commanding 28-7 lead with 2:20 left it in the opening half. Senior kicker Eric Ortiz (Oceanside, CA/ Vista), who was a perfect 6-of-6 on extra point tries, nailed a 26-yard field goal in the first attempt of his career as time expired in the first half, to lift Wagner to a 31-7 halftime lead. 

Wagner picked up where it left off in the second half, with Smith racing up the left sideline for a 41-yard TD romp as the Seahawks extended the lead to 38-7. Iona, however, converted another bad snap on a punt and a fumble recovery into two touchdowns in a 2:06 span of the third quarter to slice the deficit to 38-20. Following the high snap, Gaels' freshman QB Warren Smith (13-25-130), who alternated with starting junior QB Nick Rossetti (12-21-94), scampered 11 yards for a TD to make it 38-14. Iona then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and Smith executed a quick, five-play, 27-yard drive, capped a 14-yard TD pass to WR Nick Groth. Thetwo-point try failed leaving Wagner with a 38-20 lead. 

With 3:45 left in the game, Iona's Smith ran 12 yards for a TD and then hit TE Michael Day on the two-point try to cut it to 38-28. But Wagner recovered the onsides kick and marched five plays in 56 yards, with Young taking it over from four yards out to make it 45-28, sealing the victory. 

Wagner rushed for 285 yards and ended up with a 444-376 edge in total yards. The Seahawks had 25 first downs, while Iona had 21. Senior defensive back Dario Charlton (Lauderhill, FL/ South Plantation) and junior LB Olatunde Ogunlana (Staten Island, NY/ Tottenville) had six tackles apiece to pace Wagner defensively. 

The Seahawks are next in action on Friday, Sept. 19 when they travel to Marist College for a 7:00 pm kickoff. 

NOTES – Smith was named the winner of the annual James Robb Memorial Offensive Player of the Game. Charlton, who also had three pass breakups on the afternoon, was named the winner of the annual Nick Lia Memorial Defensive Player of the Game.