Pictured Above: The 2015 Captains: (L-to-R) - Deangelo James (9), Anthony Carrington (86), Ralph Greene (2), Greg Hilliard (6), Mike Mentor (92) (photo by Dave Saffran)Wagner-CCSU Scene-Setter
Staten Island, NY – The Wagner Seahawks (0-9, 0-4 NEC) host longtime Northeast Conference (NEC) rival Central Connecticut (4-6,3-2 NEC) on Saturday, November 14 at 12:00 p.m. in the 2015 regular season finale on Senior Day at Hameline Field.
#NECFB on NEC Front RowBehind the microphone will be Pete Mundo, who's in his third season as the Wagner's play-by-play announcer, and can be heard on WFAN Sports Radio 66 AM, WCBS Newsradio 880, the CBS Sports Radio Network and Bloomberg Radio, along with color analyst John Jastremski, AKA "JJ After Dark," a sports radio host on WFAN Radio & CBS Sports Radio
The SeriesAfter defeating Central Connecticut, 20-10, in New Britain, CT on October 25, 2014, the Seahawks now lead the all-time series vs. the Blue Devils, 14-13.
Seniors to be Honored During Pre-Game Ceremony26 DL
John Appiah51 DL
John Aubel99 DL
Daevonte Barnett34 LB
Matt Barnett73
Nazir Barnett86 WR
Anthony Carrington33 LB
Stephon Font-Toomer 2 WR
Ralph Greene 6 LB
Greg Hilliard22 DB
James Howell 9 DB
Deangelo James27 K
Bryan Maley17 LB
Nick Menocal92 DL
Mike Mentor77 OL
Kevin Messier75 OL
Andrew Oberg94 DL
Fidel Okoye71 OL
Brus Palaj47 LB
Rashon Pleasants79 OL
Kevin Sweeney 4 LB
Jarrid Williams 3 RB
Otis WrightThe Last Time These Teams Met
New Britain, CT (Oct. 25, 2014) - Quarterback
Chris Andrews ran for a game-high 84 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns and the Wagner defense recorded three interceptions while holding high-powered running back Rob Holloman to 54 yards rushing, in recording a 20-10 win at Central Connecticut. Running back
Otis Wright added 77 yards rushing on 18 carries while
Lloyd Smith was the Seahawks' leading receiver with four catches for 61 yards. Defensively, the Seahawks were paced by a trio of playmakers who recorded eight tackles apiece in linebackers
Max Wassel and
Stephon Font-Toomer, along with DB
Daniel Mack. Hollomon, CCSU's all-time leading rusher with 3,430 yards entering the game, came into the contest averaging 124.9 yards rushing per game but was held to 54 yards on 22 carries.
Last Time Out
Staten Island, NY (Nov. 7, 2015) - Bryant senior running back Ricardo McCray ran for 138 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns while junior quarterback Dalton Easton threw for 236 yards and three scores in leading the Bulldogs to a 40-10 victory over Wagner this at Hameline Field. For Wagner, sophomore quarterback
Alex Thomson, who practiced on a limited basis this week after being shaken up and forced to sit out the second half of last week's game at Duquesne, completed 13-of-28 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown. Thomson's 170-yrd passing day marked the second-highest output of his young career, surpassed only by his 219-yard effort vs. Lafayette back on September 26. His favorite target was senior tight end
Ryan Owens who delivered a virtuoso performance with eight catches for 131 yards, both career highs, including a 43-yard third-quarter touchdown reception. For the athletic 6-4, 235-pound Owens, a 2015 Preseason All-NEC selection, the 43-yard grab was also a career long, and he is now averaging 13.0 yards per reception on the year. Owens' production today allowed him to assume the team lead in both receptions (22) and receiving yards (287). In the rushing department, Thomson scrambled for 78 gross rushing yards on 16 carries. With 28 yards of losses factored in on four sacks, the 6-5, 220-pound signal-caller wound up being credited with 50 net yards on the day. Senior running back
Otis Wright (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Dillard) added 36 yards on nine carries, which computed to 4.0 yards per crack. Wright also delivered a would-be spectacular special teams play but his 94-yard, third-quarter kickoff return was negated by a holding penalty. Defensively, Seahawk senior defensive end
Mike Mentor had a team-high tackles eight (7 solo).
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, a 2004 Binghamton graduate who began his collegiate career at Lafayette, 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.
Head Coach Pete Rossomando, a Staten Island native, is in his second season as the head coach at Central Connecticut and brings a record of 7-15 into today's contest. Rossomando was named the 13th head coach of the CCSU football program on January 22, 2014 after spending five seasons at the University of New Haven in the same position. Central posted a 3-9 season in Rossomando's first year in New Britain. Prior to his arrival in New Britain, Rossomando spent five seasons as the head coach at the University of New Haven, ,where he led the Chargers to a 42-13 record and two NCAA Playoff appearances. Rossomando was named head coach of the Chargers in December of 2007 as New Haven reinstated its Division II football program after a five-year hiatus.
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)
