Photo by Dave Saffran
Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College football team took a 20-7 lead into the halftime locker room and came back in the fourth quarter to tie the game, but Delaware State came out on top on homecoming night at Hameline Field, earning a 33-27 victory in double overtime.
At the conclusion of the game,
Naiem Simmons was the recipient of the James Robb Memorial Trophy, which is annually presented to the outstanding offensive player at Homecoming while
Titus Leo earned the Nick Lia Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the Seahawks' outstanding defensive player.
Simmons led the Seahawks with six catches for 136 yards and a touchdown, while Leo compiled a game-high 17 tackles, including two sacks and five tackles for loss.
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, who was killed in the Vietnam War. An outstanding defensive player and team captain, the Staten Island native was a graduate of Curtis High School.
The Seahawks struck early, as freshman quarterback
Guenson Alexis found Simmons on the first play from scrimmage. The sophomore broke free from a tackle and took the ball up the left sideline, giving Wagner an early 7-0 lead with a 74-yard touchdown.
To start the second quarter, the Seahawks extended their lead, as head coach
Tom Masella kept the offense on the field on fourth down and goal from the one-yard line, with freshman running back
Rickey Spruill punching it in from one yard out.
Delaware State answered quickly, as a big return set the Hornets up with great field position. Following a two-play, 19-yard drive, Delaware State cut the lead in half with 13:36 to play in the second quarter.
With time winding down in the period, Alexis dialed up his biggest play of the day, finding sophomore
Julian Jordan deep downfield for a 39-yard score. For Jordan, it was his first collegiate touchdown.
The Hornets scored the next 20 points of the game, taking a 27-20 lead with 9:35 to play in the fourth quarter.
Needing a spark, Masella chose to go with sophomore
LeShane Taylor at quarterback. Once again facing a fourth down in the red zone, Taylor found fifth-year senior
Jeremiah Lorick for a 22-yard touchdown to tie the game with 6:18 to play.
Needing a stop, the Wagner defense delivered, as Leo sacked Delaware State quarterback Jared Lewis on third down to force a punt.
Knotted at 27-27 after regulation, the Seahawks went on offense first, but a trick play resulted in an interception to end Wagner's attempt to take the lead. On the ensuing position, the Hornets missed a potential game-winning field goal, forcing a second overtime period.
To start the second overtime, Lewis found Jared Gross for the touchdown, which proved to be the game-winner, as the Seahawks were stopped on their final drive of the game.
Alexis finished the game with 177 yards through the air and two touchdowns, while Taylor contributed 22 yards and one score through the air.
Senior running back
Chris Collier finished the day with 61 yards rushing on 17 carries.
Defensively, sophomore
Jalin Justice finished behind Leo with nine total tackles, one sack, and three tackles for loss.
Next up, Wagner will travel to Fordham on October 9, with kickoff set for 1:00 pm.
