Final Stats
Pictured Above: Outside Linebacker
Cam Gill (photo: Adrienne Terzuoli)
Staten Island, NY – Quarterback Kevin Duke completed 17-of-29 passes for 322 yards and Sacred Heart used a 21-7 second-quarter surge en route to a 41-14 win over Wagner which offset a 161-yard rushing day by Seahawk All-American candidate
Ryan Fulse in the Northeast Conference (NEC) opener for both teams on Saturday night at Hameline Field.
With the win, the Pioneers improve to 3-0 while the Seahawks fall to 1-3 on the young season.
Sacred Heart jumped out quickly when Julian Nunez returned the game's opening kickoff 94 yards to set up a quick two-play, six-yard drive in taking a 7-0 lead just two minutes into the contest. Following an exchange of punts, SHU embarked on a 17-play, 60-yard drive the bridged the first and second quarters, culminating in a three-yard touchdown toss from Duke to wide receiver RJ Trimble-Edwards to make it a 14-0 game with 12:33 left in the opening half.
Wagner responded quickly with a quick-strike three-play, 59-yard drive that was set up by a 13-yard kickoff return by graduate student
Andrew Celis to the Seahawk 49. After Rush burst off of a 38-yard run, followed by a five-yard scamper, graduate student quarterback
T.J. Linta delivered a 16-yard touchdown strike junior tight
Adam Giordano in the end zone to cut the lead in half, at 14-7, qwith 11:13 to go in the half.
The Pioneers closed the half with 14 unanswered points in the half's final 3:02 on a 45-yard touchdown connection from Duke to wide receiver Naseim Brantley which made it 21-7. Following a Wagner interception, SHU marched 77 yards in seven plays with a 42-yard Duke to Nunez completion over the middle setting up a Jordan Meachum one-yard TD plunge, as the Pioneers took a commanding 28-7 halftime lead.
The Seahawks would claw back with a third-quarter 12-play, 54-yard drive, capped by a Linta one-yard TD plunge with 6:01 left in the quarter to make it 28-14. But this is as close the Seahawks would get as Duke hit a pair of 62-yard TD strikes, one to wide receiver Troy Holland, and the other to Brantley, in pulling away for the 41-14 win.
Linta, who was under duress for much of the game, wound up 13-of-18 through the air for 150 yards. Sophomore wide receiver
Joshua DeCambre was Wagner's leading receiver with four receptions for 51 yards, while senior tight end
Chris Woodard and fifth-year senior receiver
Denzel Knight wound up with four and three catches, respectively, for 34 and 50 yards, with Knight's receiving yards aided by a team-high 29-yard reception.
Defensively, redshirt junior inside linebacker
Santoni Graham paced the Seahawks with 10 tackles, while junior safety
David Thomas and senior inside linebacker
Quintin Hampton added nine and seven tackles, respectively. Junior outside linebacker
Cam Gill delivered his share of big plays with six tackles, which included game highs in tackles for loss, with three (minus 16 yards), two of which went for sacks (minus 15 yards), in addition to a crunching forced fumble.
SHU's Mike Wilen wound up with a game-high 13 tackles while Salaam Horne and Chris Agyemang recorded 10 and nine tackles, respectively. Offensively, Jordan Meachum was the Pioeneer's leading ground-gainer with 76 yards on 18 carries while Brantley has three receptions for a game-high 118 yards.
The Seahawks step back out of NEC play when they make the short trek down the Jersey shore to meet former league rival Monmouth in a 1:00 p.m. start on Saturday, November 29.
NOTES
Fulse Within Seven Yards of Seahawk All-Time Top 10 in just 15 Career Games
With his 161 hard-earned rushing yards tonight, which came on a career-high 31 carries, the 5-11, 195-pound Fulse s now up to 1,966 career rushing yards, which puts him within seven yards of cracking of the Seahawk all-time top 10 list in just 15 career games. John Campbell (1998-2001) currently occupies the 10th spot with 1,973 yards.
Fulse Hits Century Mark in 10 of 15 Career Games
In just 15 games as a Seahawk after transferring in from Monroe College least season, Fulse has rushed for 100 or more yards 10 times and has eclipsed the 150-yard mark seven times, including a pair of 220-yard plus performances, including a career-high 271-yard effort in the August 30 season-opening win over Bowie State. Entering tonight's play ranked third nationally in rushing yards, Fulse is now up to 660 yards on the ground in four games this season. Seahawk after transferring in from Monroe College least season, Fulse has rushed for 100 or more yards 10 times and has eclipsed the 150-yard mark seven times, including a pair of 220-yard plus performances, including a career-high 271-yard effort in the August 30 season-opening win over Bowie State. Entering tonight's play ranked third nationally in rushing yards, Fulse is now up to 660 yards on the ground in four games this season.
Robb & Lia Trophies
A longstanding Wagner Homecoming tradition continued on Saturday as two Seahawk football players were selected to receive special awards for outstanding play. The James Robb Memorial Trophy, presented to the outstanding offensive player, went to Ryan Fulse, while the Nick Lia Memorial Trophy, which goes to the Seahawks' outstanding defensive player, was awarded to Cam Gill.
Established in 1949, the Robb Trophy was named in memory of James Robb, a Seahawk gridiron star who was killed in action during World War II. It was presented to Wagner's outstanding individual player in the annual homecoming game until 1969. In that season, the Lia Trophy was introduced in honor of another Wagner football player, Nick Lia. The 1965 recipient of the Robb Trophy was killed in the Vietnam War. An outstanding defensive player and team captain, the Staten Island native was a graduate of Curtis High School. In 2000, Lt. Nick Lia was honored for his athletic achievements by being inducted into the Wagner College Athletics Hall of Fame. Lia helped lead the 1964 football team to an undefeated season and captained the '65 team. This year's winners, as selected by an alumni panel, will be announced at the end of this season's Homecoming contest. Each recipient receives an award and his name is added to the standing trophies which will be on display in the Hall of Fame Room in the Spiro Sports Center.
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