Tevaughn Grant and
Cam Gill celebrate one of Wagner's six sacks on the afternoon
(photo by Adrienne Terzuoli)
Staten Island, NY – Graduate student quarterback
Christian Alexander-Stevens completed 27-of-36 passes for 267 yards, ran for two scores and threw for another, and the Wagner defense recorded six sacks while allowing just 18 net rushing yards en route to a 24-14 victory over the LIU Sharks in the Seahawks' Northeast Conference (NEC) opener at steamy Hameline Field on Saturday.
With the win, the Green & White improves to 1-4 on the season overall while LIU, a first-year NEC program, falls to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in league play, having dropped its conference opener by a 34-10 count vs. Sacred Heart a week ago.
For Alexander-Stevens, a first-year Seahawk who transferred from FIU, the 27 completions, 36 attempts and 267 yards are all career highs. The Lakeland, Florida's No. 1 target was junior wide receiver
Jeremiah Lorick who hauled in a career-best 11 passes for 76. Also recording a career day in the receiving department was sophomore tight end
Nolan Quinlan, who snared seven catches for team-high 77 yards.
All told, Alexander-Stevens spread the ball around to seven different receivers on the afternoon.
Wagner took an early 7-0 lead on its opening drive of the game when Alexander-Stevens led the Seahawks on a crisp eight-play, 59-yard drive, capped by a six-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver
Joshua DeCambre (4 catches, 66 yards) in the back of the end zone.
That's the way the score stood, thanks in large measure by a blocked field goal off the hands of senior defensive back
Myron Morris. until LIU quarterback Clay Beathard hit wide receiver Jake Bofshever on a 38-yard TD connection with 13:48 to play in the half which knotted the score at 7-7.
The Seahawks then took control of the game with 14 unanswered points on two TDs, the first of which was set up by a 40-yard Alexander-Stevens to DeCambre connection down to the one-yard line.
On the very next play, Alexander-Stevens dove in from the one to make it a 14-7 game. After the Seahawk defense forced a three-and-out, Alexander-Stevens deftly executed a nine-play, 59-yard march, kick-started by a two receptions by junior wide receiver
Noah Ellison of 16 and 17 yards, respectively. Alexander-Stevens also found Quinlan on a pair of nine-yard strikes before taking it in himself on a great individual effort from three yards out. His second rushing TD of the game extended the lead to 21-7.
On the drive, Alexander-Stevens was an efficient 5-of-6 through the air for 56 yards.
Wagner took a commanding 24-7 lead into halftime when left-footed kicker and reigning NEC Special Teams Player of the Week
Eric Silvester nailed a 48-yard field goal.
Following its opening drive of the second half, the Seahawks appeared to be on the verge of making the game a route but a Silvester 41-yard field goal try was blocked by Jermone Brooks III (game-high 13 tackles) and snatched off the ground by Grant Ibeh who raced 67 yards untouched the other way to make it a ballgame at 24-14.
From there, Wagner's clock-eating. ball-control offense, keyed by sophomore running back
Dymitri McKenzie's hard-earned 43-yard effort, combined with staunch defense, allowed this LIU score to be the game's final points as the Seahawks came away with the 24-14 win.
For LIU, Beathard was harassed into a 15-of-26 passing afternoon for 183 yards and the one score. Running back Tim Marinan was the Sharks' leading ground-gained with 11 carries for 27 yards.
Defenisvely, Seahawk fifth-year senior defensive end
Tevaughn Grant recorded team highs in total tackles (9), sacks (2.5 for minus 13 yards), and tackles-for-loss (4 for minus 19 yards), to go with a forced fumble and one quarterback hurry. Senior consensus All-American outside linebacker and 2018 NEC Defensive Player of the Year,
Cam Gill, had 3.0 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks, good for a team-best 24 yards of loss. Senior nose tackle
Chris Williams used his 6-2, 305 pound frame to consistently bottle things up on the interior of the defensive line, finished with 2.0 sacks for minus 11 yards and five tackles overall.
Wagner is next in action on Saturday, October 5 when the Seahawks host Monmouth in their final non-conference game of the season. This Homecoming/Hall of Fame Day contest commences with a 6:00 p.m. kickoff at Hameline Field,
