Photo by Dave Saffran
Staten Island, NY – In the first game of the
Tom Masella era, the Wagner College football team held Duquesne to just seven points in the first half and recorded five sacks throughout the contest, but it wasn't enough, as the Dukes earned a 17-0 victory on Sunday at Hameline Field.
With the loss, Wagner falls to 0-1, while Duquesne evens its record at 2-0 this season.
After the Dukes took a 7-0 lead on a touchdown run by Garrett Owens five minutes into the contest, Wagner's offense advanced the ball deep into Duquesne territory on consecutive completions by sophomore quarterback
Ryan Yost to junior Nick Castorina and sophomore
Nicholas Cartwright-Atkins. However, the Seahawks were unable to get on the board, as the drive stalled at the Dukes' 22-yard line.
The Seahawk defense battled back, as a sack on fourth down by
Titus Leo, who finished with two sacks on the day, ended an 11-play drive by the Dukes with 11 minutes to play in the second quarter.
With 2:13 to play in the first half, senior captain
Ahmad Lyons came up with an interception in the end zone to keep Duquesne off the board to end the half.
After the Dukes took a 14-0 lead on another touchdown run by Owens, the visitors recovered the ensuing kickoff and extended their lead to 17-0 with 3:47 to play in the third quarter on a Brian Bruzdewicz 33-yard field goal.
The Seahawks came up with a goal line stand in the fourth quarter, turning the Dukes away at their own one-yard line with 4:21 to play, but it wasn't enough, as Duquesne earned the victory.
Defensively, sophomore
John Gioia led the Seahawks with eight tackles, including one sack and two tackles for loss, while Leo finished with two sacks, two forced fumbles, and six total tackles.
Senior
Macai Bruce and juniors
Tre Vallar and
Tyler Richardson also had sacks on the afternoon.
Junior running back
Chris Collier finished the day with 43 yards on the ground, while Castorina was Wagner's leading receiver with three catches for 32 yards.
Yost completed seven passes for 68 yards through the air, while freshman Le'Shane Taylor also saw action at quarterback.
The Seahawks will be back in action next Sunday, as Wagner is scheduled to travel to Bryant for a 1:00 pm kickoff.
