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Staten Island, NY - In a wild, action-packed game that featured several huge, momentum-swinging plays, defending Northeast Conference (NEC) champion Sacred Heart posted a defensive-minded 23-7  win over Wagner this afternoon at wet and windy Hameline Field on Homecoming Day.

With the loss, the Seahawks saw their three-game winning streak come to an end as Wagner falls to 4-4 on the season, 2-1 in the NEC while the Pioneers improve to 7-2 overall, and are now 3-1 in league play. This was a matchup of teams that claimed the last two NEC titles as Wagner captured the league championship in 2012 while the Pioneers were the 2013 NEC Champions with their lone conference blemish last season coming in a 23-20 home loss to the Seahawks.

This afternoon's game turned when Sacred Heart defensive back Preston Sanford returned a blocked field goal 96 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter that gave the Pioneers a 17-7 lead. On Sacred Heart's next possession, Seahawk freshman defensive lineman Jordan Baskerville (West Point, NY/Milford Academy) blocked a field goal but SHU fullback Pat Casey scooped it up and ran it in for a 26-yard touchdown.

Junior running back Otis Wright (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Dillard) carried the ball 16 times for a career-high 98 yards, highlighted by a 53-yard first-quarter touchdown run that gave Wagner a 7-0 lead. Fifth-year senior linebacker. Max Wassel (Totowa, NJ/Passaic Valley) delivered a career-high 18-tackle effort, headlined by a career-high 11 solo stops and two forceed fumbles. The 5-11, 235-pound captain was credited with three tackles for loss, including a sack.

Sacred Heart quarterback RJ Noel completed 13 of 28 passes for 114 yards and gained 33 yards on 14 rushing attempts. Wide Receiver Moses Webb scored on an eight-yard reverse just before halftime to give Sacred Heart a 10-7 lead at the break, while also coming up with five receptions for 51 yards.

Trailing 10-7 early in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks were on the verge of tying the game when a 35-yard field goal attempt by senior kicker Bryan Maley (Eagle River, Alaska/Chugiak) was blocked by defensive back J.D. Roussel. Sanford picked up the loose ball at the four-yard line and weaved his way 96 yards that put SHU up by two scores.

Sacred Heart kicker Chris Rogers converted a 20-yard field goal 11 seconds into the second quarter to put the Pioneers on the board. It was the 45^th career field goal for Rogers, who became the NEC all-time leader with the kick.

NOTES

Robb & Lia awards
Annually at Homecoming, two Wagner College football players are selected to receive special awards for outstanding play. The James Robb Memorial Trophy is presented to the outstanding offensive player, while the Nick Lia Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Seahawks' outstanding defensive player, as selected by an alumni panel. Each recipient receives an award and his name is added to the trophies which are on display in the in the Spiro Sports Center.
 
Wright was year's winner of the Robb Memorial Trophy for his efforts in Saturday's Homecoming Day game while Wassel earned the Nick Lia Memorial Defensive Player of the Game honor.

Established in 1949, the Robb Trophy was named in memory of James Robb, a Seahawk gridiron star who was killed in action during World War II. It was presented to Wagner's outstanding individual player in the annual Homecoming game until 1969. In that season, the Lia Trophy was introduced in honor of another Wagner football player, Nick Lia. The 1965 recipient of the Robb Trophy was killed in the Vietnam War. An outstanding defensive player and team captain, the Staten Island native was a graduate of Curtis High School.
 
In 2000, Lieutenant Nick Lia was honored for his athletic achievements by being inducted into the Wagner College Athletics Hall of Fame. Lia helped lead the 1964 football team to an undefeated season and captained the '65 team.

Julian Stanford of the NFL's Detroit Lions, a former All-NEC linebacker for the Seahawks and a 2012 Wagner College graduate, was among the alumni who returned to Grymes Hill to take in the annual Homecoming Game. At halftime, the Bloomfield, CT native was interviewed as a guest of the ESPN 3 crew during the live webstream of the game.

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