Staten Island, NY – Freshman QB Nick Doscher (Staten Island, NY/ Moore Catholic) rushed for 144 yards on 24 carries and three TDs while throwing for 98 yards and freshman RB Dominique Williams (Bridgetown, NJ/ Milford) added 102 yards on 21 carries and four TDs rushing to lead Wagner to a wild 56-48 triple-overtime victory over Saint Francis (PA) in the Northeast Conference (NEC) season opener for both teams.

In winning the first triple-overtime game in school history, the Seahawks improve to 2-2 on the season, while the Red Flash fall to 1-3 on the season in what was the NEC season opener for both teams. Wagner, which came into the game No.1 in the NEC and No. 13 nationally in scoring offense at 37.0 points per game. The Seahawks are now averaging a whopping 41.8 points per game, moving up to No. 2 in the nation in scoring behind only Stephen F. Austin (No. 1 at 55.0 points per game).  Wagner has now topped the 40-point mark in three games this season, having scored 42 vs. Stonehill (9/5) and 41 vs. SUNY-Maritime (9/10).

In rushing for 144 yards, Doscher became the first Seahawk quarterback to rush for 100 yards or more in a game in 42 years. The last time a Seahawk signal-caller cracked the century mark in rushing was Pete Boatti, who gained 107 yards on 16 carries in a 20-13 win over Lycoming on Sept. 30, 1967.

In posting the pulsating victory, Wagner needed to overcome a 31-14 deficit . A Williams two-yard TD run with 13:20 left in the game, followed by a one-yard Doscher TD plunge with 5:50 left, drew the Seahawks within 31-28. Junior defensive back Frantz Placide (Miami, FL/ Archbishop Curley Notre Dame) then blocked a Red Flash punt in the end zone and recovered the ball to put the Seahawks up 34-31. A low snap on the extra point try, however, allowed Saint Francis (PA) an opportunity to tie the game. The Red Flash did just that by marching 10 plays in 67 yards. The key play in the drive was a 16-yard run by freshman QB John Kelly on fourth-and-five which set up Josh Thiel's 20-yard field goal as time expired, sending the game into overtime tied at 34-34.

In college overtime games, each team gains possession of the ball at the opposing team's 25-yard line and then alternate possessions. Saint Francis (PA) won the coin toss and deferred, putting Wagner's offense on the field first. Williams scampered in from three yards out on the fourth play from scrimmage to put the Seahawks on top 41-34. The Red Flash quickly countered, with Kelly hitting wide receiver Antoine Rivera for a 25-yard TD on its first offensive play of overtime, tying the game at 41-41, forcing the second overtime session.

Saint Francis (PA), as per NCAA overtime rules, then went on offense to begin the second overtime session. On the sixth play from scrimmage, Kelly again connected with Rivera, a 15-yarder this time, to put the Red Flash back on top 48-41. The onus was then on Wagner's offense and again the Seahawks came through with Doscher diving in from three yards out to knot the score at 48-48, necessitating a third overtime session.

Wagner's offense then went back on the field and delivered yet again. Williams accounted for all 25 yards of this possession, capping the drive with a 17-yard burst up the middle to put the Seahawks back in the lead at 54-48. As per NCAA overtime rules, a teams must go for two-points following all TDs beginning with the third overtime. Doscher took it in the two-point try himself to make it a 56-48 score.

On Saint Francis' possession in the third overtime, the Seahawk defense stiffened. The game came down to a fourth and four at the Seahawk 19-yard line when Kelly, diving for the first down stakes on the left sideline, came up one yard short, setting off a wild Seahawk celebration.

Senior WR Lon Woods (St. Petersburg, FL/ J.P. Taravella) caught two passes for 35 yards and had a huge impact in the game on special teams, returning three kickoffs for 112 yards with a long of 53 yards. Defensively, freshman LB Carl-Olivier Prime (Quebec, CA/ Kent School) led Wagner defensively with 12 tackles, while senior DB Jorel Joseph (Fairfax, VA/ Bishop Ireton) and senior DT Joseph Harkins (Washington, DC/ St. John's College) recorded nine and eight tackles, respectively. 

Wagner blocked two punts on the afternoon as freshman Matt Heacock (Catonsville, MD/ Loyola Blakefield) also blocked a fourth quarter punt, in addition to Placide's.

For Saint Francis (PA), Kelly wound up completing 25-of-44 passes for 301 yards and four TDs with Rivera snaring 10 of those passes for 154 yards and three TDs while Red Flash RB Jude Yearwood added 118 yards rushing on 20 carries. 

Wagner takes to the road next Saturday when the Seahawks travel to Smithfield, RI to meet the Bryant Bulldogs in a 1:00 pm kickoff.

NOTES – The last time Wagner had played an overtime game was on Oct. 2, 2004 when the Seahawks dropped a 30-24 overtime contest at Sacred Heart. The 56 points scored by Wagner are the most the Seahawks have scored in a game since Nov. 15, 1998 when Wagner earned a 62-44 victory at Jacksonville. 

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