WAGNER-BRYANT SCENE-SETTER
Following a bye week, the Wagner football team is back on the gridiron on Saturday, October 28, when the Seahawks host Northeast Conference (NEC) rival Bryant in a high noon match at Hameline Field that will be broadcast live on ESPN 3.
ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS
Last time out, Wagner (2-5, 0-3 NEC) dropped a wild 51-45, four-overtime contest at home vs. Central Connecticut on October 14. Junior quarterback
Luke Massei completed 27-of-50 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns, senior wide receiver
John Williams (had eight catches for 111 yards and two TDs, and sophomore cornerback
Myron Morris came up with two interceptions, including a 39-yard pick six, but in the end Central Connecticut was able to survive in a wild 51-45 four-overtime thriller. On the season, Massei has completed 77-of-132 passes for 822 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. With his 322 yards passing vs. CCSU, Massei became the first Seahawk quarterback to eclipse the 300-yard plateau since Matt Abbey threw for 305 yards vs. Sacred Heart on September 30, 2006.
The CCSU game also marked the first overtime game since October 11, 2014 when the Seahawks edged Saint Francis U 46-39 in two overtimes. Junior running back
Ryan Fulse is Wagner's leading ground-gainer with 613 yards on 121 rushes (5.1 yards/carry) while junior WR
D'Erren Wilson paces Wagner in the receiving department with 25 catches for 309 yards (12.4) and one touchdown. Defensively, junior linebacker
Quintin Hampton leads the way with 60 tackles (39 solo), 11 tackles for loss, six sacks,m three quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.
WAGNER HEAD COACH JASON HOUTAGHLING Jason Houghtaling (say it Ho-tal-ling) is in his third season as the head coach of the Seahawks and, at age 36, is the third-youngest head coach in the FCS. He took over for
Walt Hameline, who announced at the end of the 2014 season that he would be stepping down as head coach while remaining as Seahawk athletic director. Houghtaling, who guided Wagner to a 6-5 record (4-2 in the NEC, third place) in 2016, was the Seahawks' associate head coach and offensive coordinator when the Green & White claimed a share of the 2014 NEC title (with Sacred Heart), and overall, has spent seven years as a Wagner assistant. In his final three seasons as offensive coordinator (2011, 2012, 2014), the Seahawks amassed a 16-6 NEC record with league titles in two of those three years. In 2014, the Seahawks' offense ranked No. 4 nationally in time of possession and did not commit a turnover in the final three games of the season. Houghtaling served as offensive coordinator at Cornell in 2013 before returning to Grymes Hill as associate head coach/offensive coordinator.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
