"I'm happy for the kids, our seniors in particular, and everybody associated with the program," said Houghtaling. "There are so many people that are involved with a football program on a college campus. To get a win, it makes everybody feel better, it feels good, so I'm happy for everyone to get a win. We made some good plays early on which gave us some confidence and really propelled us throughout the whole day," the first-year head coach added. "I thought our defense swarmed to the ball all day and we made our share of plays on offense and special teams."

Wagner got off to a fast start as sophomore quarterback Alex Thomson (Keyport, NJ/Keyport), scampered 40 yards up the right sideline into the endzone to give the Seahawks a 7-0 lead.  For Thomson, the run was the longest of his career and capped a five-play, 55-yard, 2:43 drive.

Following the Thomson touchdown, the Wagner defense delivered its first of many big plays on the afternoon. Sophomore free safety Tyamonee Johnson (Fort Washington, MD/Bullis School) jarred the ball loose from CCSU running back Cameron Nash and was recovered by senior inside linebacker Stephon Font-Toomer (Bethlehem, NY/Liberty) at the Blue Devils' 42-yard line.

After three Wright carries, which accounted for 26 yards and a first down at the CCSU 13, Thomson delivered a 12-yard strike over the middle to fifth-year senior wide receiver Anthony Carrington (Toms River, NJ/Toms River), who was able to hold onto the ball in traffic and was brought down at the one-yard line. On the ensuing play, junior running back Matthias McKinnon (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn/Jireh Prep) bulled his way into the end zone, giving Wagner a 14-0 lead with 4:58 left in the first quarter.

Picking up on the momentum from the offense, the Seahawks' defense turned in another brilliant defensive effort on CCSU's next possession when sophomore strong safety Jesse Flaherty (Oceanport, NJ/Red Bank Catholic/The Peddie School) registered his first career interception, after stepping in front of a pass thrown by CCSU QB Jacob Dolegala at the Seahawk 34 to thwart the Blue Devil drive.

The score remained 14-0 favor of Wagner at halftime as both defenses didn't allow a score.

As they did on their game-opening drive, the Seahawks took the second half kickoff and marched right down the field. Wright started things off with a 14-yard burst and then two plays later, Thomson connected with Carrington on a 28-yard pass and catch, which gave the Seahawks a first down at the CCSU 20. Wright then found a seam up the middle in picking up another 16 yards, which gave the Seahawks a first and goal from the four-yard line. On the next play, the 5-10, 180-pound speedster completed the drive by taking the ball in for the score, giving the home team a 21-0 lead, and putting an exclamation point on a five-play, 65-yard, 2:05 drive.

With the momentum squarely back on Wagner's side, the Seahawk defense forced a three and out and a CCSU punt. A pivotal play for the Seahawks occurred on a third-and-10 when Carrington reached back to make a twisting, acrobatic grab right at the first down marker at the Seahawk 37. Following a holding penalty, which made it 1st-and-16 from the Seahawk 31, Wright raced up the left sideline on a career-long 66-yard dash before being tripped up at three. McKinnon then cin on first down for his second score of the afternoon as Wagner opened a commanding 28-0 lead with 8:57 left in the third quarter.

With 1:24 in the third, the Blue Devils striked for its lone score of the game as Dolegala connected with Courtney Rush in stride over the middle for a 53-yard touchdown, which made it 28-7.

While the fourth quarter was scoreless, it did offer its share of drama, beginning with a CCSU drive down the field to the Wagner nine. After a rush from Dolegala gained no yards and back-to-back incompletions, fourth-and-goal was facing the Blue Devils from the Seahawk nine. Dolegala was forced to throw on fourth down but the Wagner defense came up big again, as this time, junior cornerback Tim Hayes (Los Angeles, CA/Crespi Carmelite) came away with the pick in the end zone.

After the Wagner offense couldn't muster anything on its ensuing possesion was forced to punt, Central's Dan Hebert returned a punt 34 yards, as the visitors took over at the Seahawk 38. On first down, the Seahawk defense came away with its fourth INT of the day, as Hayes picked off Dolegala at the Seahawk 11-yard line.

With CCSU facing a fourth-and-four from its own 48, senior defensive end John Appiah (Franklin, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick/Nassau CC) came off the edge, hurrying Dolegala into an incomplete pass.

Taking over at the 48 with 6:30 to play, and with the crowd and the Seahawk sideline sensing the win was at hand, Wagner killed the rest of the clock, driving 42 yards in 10 plays. Facing a second-and-goal at the CCSU two, Houghtaling called for the victory formation, and after Thomson took a knee, the celebration began to unfold.

Wagner held the upper hand in virtually every statistical category on this day, outgaining CCSU 428-267 while out-rushing the Blue Devils by a whopping 316-81 margin. The Seahawks also led in first downs (20-14) and time of possession (32:50-27:10). The Green & White were successful on 6-of-12 third-down conversion while the Blue Devils were 5-of-15 in this category.

Thomson wound up with 64 yards rushing on 11 carries, keyed by his 45-yard first-quarter TD jaunt. The Jersey Shore product was also 7-of-13 passing for 72 yards. Carrington wound up with four receptions for a career-high 90 yards on the day, including a 40-yard reception on an option pass thrown by junior wide receiver Andrw Yevchinecz (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton, a former high school quarterback.

Defensively, in addition to Mentor's nine tackles, fifth-year senior linebacker Greg Hilliard (Brockton, MA/Suffield Academy/UMass) had seven stops (five solo), Harris and sophomore linebacker Randall May (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) finished with six tackles apiece. The Seahawk defensive unit was credited with five total sacks (minus 30 yards), eight tackles for loss (minus 44 yards), six pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, four interceptions and one fumble recovery.

For CCSU, running back Cameron Nash finished with 143 total yards, 102 of those coming on the ground on 21 carries. He caught four out of the backfield for an additional 41 yards. Dolegala, who came on in relief of starter Tavion Pauldo, completed 11-of-22 passes, for 150 yards with 3 INTs and a TD. Pauldo was 5-of-8 passing for 36 yards. Defensively, linebacker Randall LaGuerre paced CCSU with 10 tackles, all of the solo variety.

SUPERLATIVES