Pictured Above: Senior defensive lineman Mike Mentor, winner of the 2015 Nick Lia Memorial Trophy As Defensive MVP of last week's Homecoming Game (Photo by Dave Saffran)Staten Island, NY - When Northeast Conference (NEC) charter members Wagner (0-3) and Robert Morris (1-3) meet in the 2015 league opener for both teams, this will mark the 22nd all-time matchup between the schools. The Seahawks won last year's matchup in Moon Township, PA by a 20-0 count and
Colonials hold a 13-8 edge in the all-time series. Wagner in All-Time NEC Openers2015 marks the 20th anniversary of NEC football and the Seahawks are 11-8 all-time in NEC openers since the inaugural conference season of 1996.
The CoachesJason Houghtaling (say it Ho-tal-ling) is in his first season as the head coach of the Seahawks, taking over for 34-year head coach
Walt Hameline, who announced last November that he would be stepping down while remaining as Seahawk athletic director. Houghtaling was the Seahawks' associate head coach and offensive coordinator last season and has spent seven years as a Wagner assistant. In his last three years as offensive coordinator, the Seahawks amassed a 16-6 NEC record with league titles in two of the last three seasons. In 2014, the Seahawks' offense ranked No. 4 nationally in time of possession and did not commit a turnover in the last three games of the season.
John Banaszak, a three-Time Super Bowl Winner with Pittsburgh Steelers, is the second head football coach in Robert Morris University history as he will lead the program in his second season in 2015. During the 2014 campaign, he led the Colonials to the largest comeback victory in school history while also turning the squad into one of the most disciplined in the country as RMU broke its program record for fewest penalty yards per game.
Thomson Shines In First Career StartWagner sophomore quarterback
Alex Thomson (Keyport, NJ/Keyport) completed 15-of-23 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns vs. Lafayette, both to junior wide receiver
Andre Yevchinecz (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton), who had career highs with eight catches for 148 yards, in Saturday night's 35-24 Homecoming loss to Lafayette. The 6-4, 220-pound Thomson, who was making the first start of his collegiate career after coming off the bench in Wagner's first two games, was also credited with 78 yards rushing on 14 attempts, with a long run of 23 yards. Thomson, who came off the bench in the Seahawks' first two games, at Rice (9/5) and at home vs. Monmouth (9/19), Thomson has completed 25-of-38 passes (65.8%), with four TDs and two interceptions, and a Quarterback Rating of 180.2.
Yevchinecz Has Spectacular NightWagner junior wide receiver
Andre Yevchinecz (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) registered career highs with eight catches for 148 yards, in Saturday night's 35-24 Homecoming loss to Lafayette, in addition to posting a 15.0-yard average on four punt returns. The former high school quarterback also got into the act in the passing department when he completed a 29-yard pass to junior wide receiver
Keith Foster (Newark, NJ/Weequahic/Milford Academy) in the second quarter, which led to Thomson's 16-yard TD pass to fifth-year senior wide receiver
Ralph Greene (Tigard, OR/Tigard). For the season, the 5-11, 170-pound Binghamton, NY native leads the Seahawks in receptions (12) and receiving yards (200), to go along with two touchdowns.
Defense, DefenseThe Seahawks did a brilliant job all evening against the run vs. Lafayette, limiting the Leopards to just 58 yards rushing on 33 carries while churning out 137 yards themselves on 35 carries. Senior strong safety
Bruce Brittingham (Trenton, NJ/Perkiomen School) paced the Seahawks with a team-high eight tackles, including six solo stops and one pass breakup. Junior cornerback
Tim Hayes (Los Angeles, CA/Crespi Carmelite/Wyoming) and senior nose tackle
Fidel Okoye (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown), added six tackles apiece.
About Robert MorrisThe Robert Morris Colonials are coming off oAf a setback at South Dakota State, which was the Colonials' second contest in three weeks on the road against a nationally ranked opponent.RMU linebacker Kimani Smith and placekicker Connor Shennan collected defensive and special teams honors, respectively, in the league's weekly release Monday, giving the Colonials a NEC-best five awards this season. Robert Morris' rushing attack has put up impressive numbers in recent weeks as the Colonials have increased their rushing output in each game thus far this season. RMU will continue NEC play next Saturday, Oct. 10, as it hosts the league's 2014 playoff participant, Sacred Heart, on ESPN3 before enjoying its lone bye of the campaign.
30-Year Anniversary of 9-2 1985 ECAC Championship Team To Be Recognized At Halftime
Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@WagnerAthletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department and @Wagner_Football for all the latest news pertaining to Wagner Football and first-year head coach Jason Houghtaling @HossWagner #CHAOSonthehill. Seahawk athletics can also be followed on Instagram (@wagnerathletics) 
