Pictured Above: Defensive stalwarts Greg Hilliard (6), Stephon Font-Toomer (33) and John Aubel (51), along with RB Matthias McKinnon (11), are seen in action today vs. Robert Morris (photo by Dave Saffran)

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Photo Gallery (Dave Saffran)

Highlights / Post-Game Press Conference

Coach Houghtaling Post-Game Interview
(with Pete Mundo)

Staten Island, NY – Connor Shennan booted a 19-yard field goal with 23 seconds left in the game to offset a dominant defensive effort by the Seahawks, and a 139-yard rushing day by junior running back Matthias McKinnon (Albany, NY/Jireh Prep), in the Northeast Conference (NEC) opener for both teams.

With the loss, the Seahawks are now 0-4 overall and 0-1 in league play while the Colonials improve to 2-3 on the season, 1-0 in conference.

Despite the cold, blustery weather which featured wind gusts upwards of 30 miles per hour, fifth-year senior kicker Bryan Maley (Eagle River, Alaska/Chugiak) nailed a pair of first-half field goals, of 44 and 41 yards, respectively, giving the Seahawks a 6-0 lead midway through the second quarter and an eventual 6-3 halftime lead. Wagner held the lead until the 10:19 mark of the third quarter when Shennan's second of three field goals, a 36-yarder, tied the game at 6-6.

That 's the way the score remained until Shennan's last-minute game-winning field goal, a boot that capped a 12 play, 65-yard drive for the Colonials, in which quarterback Tyler Brown accounted for 53 of the final 65 yards both rushing and passing. Brown finished the game with 132 total yards for Robert Morris (79 passing and 53 rushing). Cole Blake dded 89 yards rushing on 16 carries, including a game long 52-yard run.

A pivotal play came when Seahawks were threatening to add to their 6-3 late first-half lead, having marched 63 yards in 11 plays. But on 3^rd-and-1 from the RMU seven, a fumbled center exchange was recovered by the Colonials at their own 12 as the score remained 6-3 at halftime.

McKinnon's career-high rushing day came on 22 carries while fellow junior running back Brandon Peoples (Abington Township, PA/Archbishop Wood/Milford Academy) added 36 yards on nine carries.

While the Seahawks were able to churn out a season-high 197 yards rushing, sophomore quarterback Alex Thomson (Keyport, NJ/Keyport) was under duress all day in the passing game.The 6-4, 220-pound signal-caller, who entered the day with a sparkling 180.19 quarterback rating, was hurried into a 6-for-14 afternoon for just 45 yards, while being sacked seven times.

Senior tight end Ryan Owens (Gainesville, NY/Leechworth) had two receptions for 18 yards, including a clutch 12-yard third quarter reception on 4^th-and-3, which gave Wagner a first down at the RMU 16, two plays before the game-changing fumble.

Defensively, senior inside linebacker Stephon Font-Toomer (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) led the way for a unit that allowed just 253 yards of offense, recording a game-high eight tackles (seven solo), to go with two pass breakups. Fellow senior linebackers, Jarrid Williams (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) and Greg Hilliard (Brockton, MA/Suffield Academy/UMass) added seven and six tackles, respectively.

In the secondary, sophomore safety Kemani Howard (Rochester, NY/Wilson Magnet) also had six stops while senior safety Bruce Brittingham (Trenton, NJ/Perkiomen School) came up with his second career interception.

Wagner is next in action on Saturday, October 10 when the Green & White travel to Columbia to meet the Lions in a 6:00 p.m. kickoff.
 
NOTES


 












30-Year Anniversary of 1985 ECAC Championship Team
At halftime, the Wagner athletic department honored the 1985 Seahawks on the 30-year anniversary of their 9-2 season which culminated with a 9-7 victory over the Merchant Marine Academy in the ECAC South Championship Game.

Wagner in All-Time NEC Openers
2015 marks the 20th anniversary of NEC football and the Seahawks, following today's loss, are now 11-9 all-time in NEC openers since the inaugural conference season of 1996.
 
All-Time RMU Series
Following the 9-6 loss to RMU, Wagner now trails the all-time series with the Colonials, 14-8.
 
Rafano Launches Pair of 50-Yard Punts
Junior punter Bryan Rafano (South River, NJ/St. Joseph's-Metuchen) had a busy afternoon in the windy conditions and delivered a more than admirable performance, averaging 40.6 yards on eight punts, including a pair of career-long 50-yard boots.

McKinnon's Career Day
McKinnon's century yard topping performance eclipsed his previous career high of 93 yards vs. Alderson Broaddus (10/4/14). The 139 rushing yards amassed by McKinnon also marks the first time a Seahawk has reached the 100-yard mark in a game since former all-time great Dominique Williams gained 177 yards on 31 carries vs. these same Robert Morris Colonials on October 26, 2013.
 
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