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NEC Co-Title Celebration Photo Gallery (by Mike Miller)

Smithfield, RI - The Wagner defense came up with four interceptions, junior quarterback Chris Andrews (Queens, NY/Valley Forge Military Academy) ran for 95 yards, while passing for another 140, and sophomore running back Brandon Peoples (Abington Township, PA/Archbishop Wood) ran for two scores as the Seahawks claimed a share of the 2014 NEC Title with a thrilling 23-20 win at Bryant.

With the victory, Wagner completes the 2014 season with a final overall record of 7-4, winning six of their final seven games, including the last three, to finish with a 5-1 mark in the NEC. The only blemish on the Seahawks' conference record was a 23-7 home loss to Sacred Heart on November 1.

The Pioneers, who completed their season with a 14-7 home win over Bryant last week, matched Wagner's 5-1 NEC record (9-2 overall) but it's the Pioneers who will represent the NEC in the upcoming Division I FCS Playoffs by virtue of their head-to-head win over the Seahawks



For Wagner, the 2014 NEC regular season crown, which they share with Sacred Heart, marks the second regular season conference title in the last three years. After opening the 2012 season 0-3, the Green & White reeled off nine consecutive victories en route to the first NEC Championship in school history.

In similar fashion, this year's Seahawks opened the season at 1-3, dropping three straight games following a season-opening win at Georgetown. Fueled by a defense, which entered today's play ranked No. 3 nationally in rushing defense (85.7), No. 5 in total defense (271.6 yards) and No. 9 in fewest points allowed (17.8), combined with an opportunistic offense, the Seahawks closed the season by winning six of their last seven.

Four different Seahawks had one interception apiece - senior free safety Daquan Cooper (Philadelphia, PA/George Washington/Tempe), fifth-year senior inside linebacker Max Wassel (Totowa, NJ/Passaic Valley), and senior cornerback Nevon Williams (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) and senior cornerback Deangelo James (Miami, FL/ American Senior).

Wassel and senior outside linebacker Greg Hilliard (Brockton, MA/Suffield Academy/UMass) led the Seahawks defense with six tackles apiece while Williams, senior strong safety Daniel Mack (Miami, FL/Dade Christian/Wake Forest) and junior inside linebacker Stefon Font-Toomer (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) contributed five tackles apiece.

Wagner led for most of the game and held both the field position and time of possession battle advantage thanks in large part to the four interceptions, three of which came in the first half. The Seahawks were unable to take full advantage of the first-half turnovers in taking a 7-0 halftime lead on a three-yard TD run by Peoples just 4:03 into the game. That's the way the score stood until a James interception and return gave the Seahawks the ball at the Bulldogs' 16 which led to a 10-yard touchdown pass from Andrews to junior tight end Ryan Owens (Gainseville, NY/Leftwich) as the left-hander took a big hit as he released the ball

The extra-point try, however, by senior Bryan Maley (Eagle River, Alaska/Chugiak), hit the left upright, leaving Wagner in front by a 13-0 count. Bryant answered quickly on its ensuing drive with Easton hitting wide receiver Keenan Thompson on a 61-yard hook-up with 8:00 left in the third quarter to make it a 13-7 game. Wagner extended its lead late in the third quarter when Maley hit a 20-yard field goal.

The Bulldogs fought back with a 12-play,, 60-yard drive, capped by a 17-yard scoring pass from Easton to tight end John Lavin. Bryant's extra-point try then missed, leaving the Seahawks in front by a field goal at 16-13. Midway through the fourth quarter, Bryant took its first lead on a beautifully-executed hook and ladder play. The play began with a 17-yard completion from Easton to wide receiver Taylor Barthelette at the Wagner 40, with Barthelette then lateraling the ball to running back Rico Carty who raced into the end zone to put the Bulldogs on top, 20-16.

Wagner then answered with a drive that will undoubtedly be recalled fondly within Seahawk Nation for years to come. A combination of deft passing and elusive, hard running from Andrews keyed a clutch 65-yard, nine-play drive, which was culminated by a three-yard TD  run by Peoples, his second of the game, that put the Seahawks back out in front, 23-20 with just 44 seconds left to play.

Easton marched the Bulldogs into scoring range but his "Hail Mary" pass into the end zone, on the final play of the game, was batted away in traffic and the Seahawk celebration was on.

During  Wagner's game-winning drive, Andrews was the catalyst, accounting for the first 62 yards of the drive, with Peoples taking care of the final three years. Facing a 20-16 deficit , the Wagner defense forced a Bryant punt with the Seahawks taking over on their own 35 with just 2:40 to play.

Andrews then went to work, completing passes of 20 and four yards to his tight ends, Owens, and fifth-year senior Bryant Watts, respectively. He also carried the ball three times for 38 yards, on runs of 15, 13 and 10 yards, the latter giving Wagner a first-and-goal at the three, setting up the Peoples three-yard, game-winning touchdown.

NOTES
Hameline 223 Wins
In guiding Wagner to it second NEC regular season title in the last three years, and to the 24^th winning season in his 34-year tenure as Seahawk head coach, Walt Hameline improved his career record to 223-139-2 (.615).
 
200-Win Plateau
5th Among ACTIVE FCS Coaches in Career Victories
1. Andy Talley, Villanova ..................................... 241
2. Rob Ash, Montana St. ....................................... 240
3, Al Bagnoli, Penn.........................................        239
4. Jimmye Laycock, William & Mary ...........         229
5. WALT HAMELINE, WAGNER..........                223
6. Joe Glenn, South Dakota.................................  194
7. Mike Ayers, Wofford ..........................................  193
8. K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston St............................  181
9 Tim Murphy, Harvard .........................................   177
10. Rick Comegy, Jackson St. ............................... 167
(Through games of 11/22/14)
 
Balanced Rushing Attack
 In addition to the 72 yards gained by Chris Andrews on the ground in the win at Bryant, the Seahawks received balanced support from its trio of halfbacks on Saturday. Junior Otis Wright (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Dillard) rushed for 67 yards on 15 carries, sophomore Matthias McKinnon (Albany, NY/Jireh Prep) accumulated 53 yards on 14 attempts. Felllow sophomore Brandon Peoples made the most of his five carries, finding the end zone on a two-yard first-quarter carry before tallying the game-winning score, a three-yard jaunt with just 44 seconds to play, which lifted Wagner to the thrilling 23-20 win. For the game, Peoples finished with 26 yards on those five carries.
 
Spreading it Around

Quarterback Chris Andrews hit six different receivers during Wagner's momentous win at Bryant, led by junior tight end Ryan Owens (Gainesville, NY/Letchworth, NY) was his favorite target, snaring three catches for 35 yards, including a 10-yard third-quarter TD reception as well as a 20-yard grab on Wagner's game-winning drive. Sophomore wide receiver Lloyd Smith (Willingboro, NJ/Valley Forge Military Academy) caught two passes for 47 yards while fifth-year senior tight end Bryant Watts (Burlington, NJ/Florence) had two catches for 31 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Keith Foster (Newark, NJ/Milford Academy) had one grad for 11 yards, and it was a big one, as he snared a ball on the left sideline during the Seahawks' game-winning march. Fifth-year senior wideout Fritz Rock (Golden Valley, MN/Illinois) had one catch for seven yards.

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