WATCH | Live Stats | Game Notes
Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College football team will wrap up its three-game homestand with a noon clash against Duquesne on Saturday.
The Game Of The Week
At 3-2 in conference play, the Seahawks are tied for second place in the Northeast Conference (NEC). On Saturday, Wagner will take on the lone undefeated team in the circuit in Duquesne, as the Dukes sit at 4-0 in NEC action.
Last Time Out
Behind three interceptions and three touchdown passes by graduate student
Steven Krajewski, the Seahawks earned a convincing 28-17 victory over Stonehill last Saturday.
Down 14-0 in the first quarter, the Seahawks fought their way back into the game in the second quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points to take the lead.
Defense Tightens In The Second Half
Wagner's defense has not allowed a point in the second half in two consecutive games. The Seahawks shut out Stonehill and CCSU in consecutive games and have only allowed one second half touchdown on defense in the second half of games at home all season.
The Magic Formula
Wagner's three wins this season have followed a clear pattern. The Seahawks are undefeated on the season when leading at halftime. With another interception by
Junior Wily on Saturday, Wagner extended its streak of being undefeated under head coach
Tom Masella when Wily picks off the opposing quarterback.
Wagner is undefeated this season when having more total yards, more rushing yards, and more than 300 yards of total offense. The Seahawks are 3-1 this year when winning the turnover battle and rushing for more than 100 yards as a team.
Krajewski Continues To Impress
Graduate student quarterback
Steven Krajewski once again earned NEC Prime Performer honors after throwing for three touchdowns with no interceptions against Stonehill. The veteran signal caller leads the league with 13.38 completions per game.
Freshmen Shine
Two freshmen had a huge impact in Wagner's win over Stonehill.
Zachary Ricci recorded the first interception of his collegiate career and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown to tie the game in the first half. For his efforts, Ricci was named an NEC Prime Performer.
Three-time NEC Rookie of the week
Jaylen Bonelli continued on his quest for Rookie of the Year, as the first-year Seahawk brought in two spectacular touchdowns for the first multi-touchdown game of his career. Bonelli is Wagner's leading receiver with 448 yards on the season and is fourth in the country among freshmen with 56 yards receiving per game.
Wily Leads The Way
Senior captain
Junior Wily had another impressive game against Stonehill, earning NEC Prime Performer honors. Wily was second on the team with 10 tackles and recorded his third interception of the season. Wily is tied for 16
th in the country with 0.4 interceptions per game this year.
Staying Disciplined
With 46 penalty yards per game, the Seahawks lead the NEC and sit at 23
rd in the country.
The Cookie Jar
Saturday's win over Stonehill marked Wagner's second game with three interceptions on the season. The Seahawks have eight picks this year, tied for 26
th in the country and first in the NEC.
Scoring On Defense
Zachary Ricci's pick six marked Wagner's second defensive touchdown on the season. Wagner is tied for 11
th in the country with two defensive scores this year.
Here Comes Gioia
Graduate student captain
John Gioia continues to rack up tackles. With 8.5 tackles per game, Gioia ranks second in the NEC and 39
th in the country.
The Series
Saturday's matchup marks the 19
th meeting in the all-time series between the two teams. Duquesne has won the last eight meetings between the two teams dating back to 2014.
Scouting The Dukes
The Dukes are the lone undefeated team in the NEC at 4-0. Duquesne is 5-3 overall this season and has won three straight games heading into Saturday's tilt.
Next Up
The Seahawks will wrap up their conference schedule at LIU next Saturday, November 11, with a road matchup at LIU.
