Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College football team came within two points of Merrimack with 4:15 to play on a six-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback
Guenson Alexis, but it wasn't enough, as Merrimack came away with a 35-26 victory at sun-splashed Hameline Field on Saturday.
Down 28-20, the Seahawks went on a 14-play, 60-yard drive, resulting in Alexis' touchdown run, but the two-point conversion failed to keep it a two-point game.
Wagner's defense delivered a stop on the ensuing drive, giving the Seahawks the ball back with 2:28 to play, but the offense couldn't put together a game-winning drive.
After the Warriors scored on their opening possession of the game, Wagner answered with two touchdown runs by freshman running back
Rickey Spruill to take a 13-7 lead after the first quarter.
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.
Merrimack answered, scoring 14 points in the second quarter to take a 21-13 lead at the midway point.
The Seahawks got on the board first in the second half, as senior quarterback
Quincy Guy-Barnes, who earned his first start of his Wagner career, connected with junior wide receiver
Jayvin Little for the 18-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-20 with 7:42 to play in the third quarter.
The Warriors answered quickly, extending their lead to 28-20 on a two-play, 40-yard drive, before Wagner's comeback attempt fell short in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, Wagner's captains had big afternoons, as graduate student
Ahmad Lyons came up with two interceptions and seven total tackles, while senior
Titus Leo finished the day with a team-high nine tackles and three tackles for loss, including one sack.
Alexis was Wagner's leading rusher with 93 yards on nine carries, while senior
Messiah Divine rushed for 88 yards. Spruill finished the day with 65 yards on the ground, as the Seahawks combined for 367 yards on the ground.
The Seahawks will be back in action next Saturday, November 13, as they travel to Sacred Heart, with kickoff scheduled for 12 pm.
