Photo by Dave Saffran
WATCH | Live Stats | Game Notes
Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College football team will host Merrimack on Saturday at Hameline Field, with kickoff set for 12:00 pm on NECFrontRow.
Applying Pressure
As a team, Wagner combines for seven tackles for loss per game, which is good for first in the NEC and 17
th 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.
Special Teams Making An Impact
The Seahawks' special teams unit are making an impact. On Saturday, 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 22.5 yards per kickoff return.
Wagner ranks first in the conference with 10.14 yards per return, while freshman
Joshua Brown is third in the circuit with 37.9 yards per punt.
Possessing The Ball
Wagner's offense averages 31:58 minutes of possession per game, good for third in the NEC and 22
nd 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 second in the NEC in tackles for loss with 1.6 stops behind the line of scrimmage per game, which is also good for 14th in the nation. Leo is currently also second in the conference in sacks (.75 per game) and sixth in the NEC in total tackles (6.2 per game).
Against LIU, Leo compiled two tackles for loss and a sack, earning NECPrimePerformer honors.
The Series
The Seahawks and Warriors have met only once before, with Merrimack coming out 42-41 in a close game at Hameline Field in 2013.
The Warriors joined the Northeast Conference in 2018 and will become a full member of the conference in 2023-24 upon completion of its four-year NCAA Division I reclassification period.
Scouting The Warriors
Merrimack enters the weekend with a 4-4 overall record and 1-3 conference mark. The Warriors' lone NEC victory came two weeks ago in a 43-5 victory over LIU. Last weekend, Merrimack fell 49-21 at Central Connecticut.
Alexis Makes Plays
Freshman quarterback
Guenson Alexis rushed for two touchdowns in the first half against LIU while also rushing for a career-high 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 Delware State earlier this season.
On the year, Alexis has accounted for five touchdowns in four starts.
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.
The Schedule
Following Saturday's contest, the Seahawks will close out the 2021 season with a road matchup at Sacred Heart on November 13 and a home contest against Duquesne on November 20.
