Pictured Above: Running back Messiah Divine
WATCH | Live Stats | Game Notes
Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College football team will travel to Sacred Heart on Saturday, November 13, with kickoff set for 12:00 pm on NECFrontRow.
Spruill Named Rookie Of The Week
Wagner freshman running back
Rickey Spruill was named the Northeast Conference's (NEC) Rookie of the Week, the league announced on Monday afternoon.
Spruill ran for two touchdowns in the first quarter in last Saturday's game against Merrimack.
For Spruill, who scored from five yards out with 5:10 to play in the first quarter and from one yard away on the final play of the quarter, it was the first two-touchdown game of his collegiate career. On the day, Spruill finished with 65 yards rushing on 14 carries.
As a team, the Seahawks rushed for a season-high 367 yards, the first game with more than 300 yards on the ground since the season finale in 2018, when Wagner ran for 321 yards in a 41-7 victory over Robert Morris.
Saturday also marked the first time a Wagner running back rushed for two scores since
Dymitri McKenzie accomplished the feat in the Seahawks' 2019 season-opener at FBS member UConn.
The first-year Seahawk has now rushed for 398 yards, which is good for seventh in the conference, and three touchdowns in eight games this season.
The Morrisville, PA native becomes the first Seahawk to earn an NEC weekly award since Eric Silvester earned Special Teams Player of the Week in October 2019 and first Wagner freshman to pick of Rookie of the Week honors since current senior captain
Titus Leo earned the award for his performance against Saint Francis U in October 2018.
Special Teams Making An Impact
The Seahawks' special teams unit are making an impact. On Saturday, sophomore
Christian Davis blocked a punt, while senior
Eric DeMayo picked up a first down on a fake punt. Against LIU, a fake field goal by freshman
Austin Hosier set up Wagner's first touchdown of the game.
The Seahawks have recovered three fumbles on punts this season, while junior
Jayvin Little ranks first in the Northeast Conference (NEC) with 19.7 yards per kickoff return.
Freshman
Joshua Brown is third in the circuit with 38yards per punt.
Applying Pressure
As a team, Wagner combines for 6.7 tackles for loss per game, which is good for first in the NEC and 25th in the country. In Wagner's homecoming loss to Delaware State, the Seahawks combined for 18 tackles for loss, which is still tied for the highest number in the country this year.
Possessing The Ball
Wagner's offense averages 32:25 minutes of possession per game, good for second in the NEC and 16th in the country.
Leo Leads The Way
Senior captain
Titus Leo continues to be among the nation's best at his position. The reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year is first in the NEC in tackles for loss with 1.7 stops behind the line of scrimmage per game, which is also good for seventh in the nation. Leo is currently also second in the conference in sacks (.78 per game) and fourth in the NEC in total tackles (6.6 per game).
Against Merrimack, Leo finished the day with a team-high nine tackles and three tackles for loss, including one sack, earning him NEC PrimePerformer honors.
The Series
Saturday's game will be the 23rd all-time meeting between these longtime Northeast Conference (NEC) rivals in what has been a close, competitive series these past two decades. Overall, both teams have won 11 games apiece. Wagner has won four of the last eight matchups, including a 28-15 win in the 2017 season finale for both teams back on November 18 in Fairfield, CT.
Scouting The Pioneers
Sacred Heart enters Saturday's contest with a league-leading 4-1 conference record and 6-3 overall mark.
The Pioneers, who won the league title in the shortened spring 2021 season, have won four straight games and can repeat as the NEC champions with wins in their final two games.
Explosive Plays
On the first play from scrimmage in Wagner's contest at Delaware State, wide receiver
Naiem Simmons took a quick pass from freshman quarterback
Guenson Alexis and turned it into a 74-yard touchdown reception.
Simmons' reception was the second touchdown catch of 70 or more yards on the season for Wagner, with freshman
Randy Fizer's 82-yard catch and run at Saint Francis U still tied for the fourth-longest reception in the country this season.
Wagner has had an offensive explosive play of 50 or more yards in three of its games this season.
Alexis Makes Plays
Coming on in relief of senior
Quincy Guy-Barnes, freshman quarterback
Guenson Alexis rushed for a game-high 93 yards in Saturday's game against Merrimack. Alexis also ran for a touchdown, scoring from six yards out in the fourth quarter.
Alexis ran for two touchdowns in the first half against LIU while also rushing for 51 yards. For Alexis, it marked the first game of his young collegiate career with two rushing touchdowns and second game with two touchdowns after he threw for two scores against Delaware State earlier this season.
On the year, Alexis has accounted for six touchdowns and has scored in four of his last five appearances.
The Schedule
Following Saturday's contest, the Seahawks will close out the 2021 season with a senior day contest against Duquesne on November 20.
