Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College football team opened the 2024 season with a 46-7 win over Virginia University of Lynchburg on Saturday afternoon at Hameline Field.

The Seahawks were led by sophomore Jaylen Bonelli, who scored two first half touchdowns on 106 receiving yards. Senior Mark Didio followed Bonelli in receiving yards, recording 84 yards on just two receptions.

Overall, the Green and White gained 431 all-purpose yards compared to Lynchburg's 139, with 179 of those yards tallied on the ground. Sophomore Sekou Kamau averaged 10.3 yards per carry to lead the Seahawk backfield.

The game got off to a fast start as the Seahawks scored on the second play from scrimmage. After a 47-yard connection from junior Damien Mazil to Didio, senior Rickey Spruill rattled off a six-yard run to find the end zone and open the scoring.

TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS@RickeySpruill36 punches it in on the second play from scrimmage to give the Seahawks an early 7-0 advantage! #LetsFly pic.twitter.com/1m8yctcE0g

— Wagner College Football (@Wagner_Football) August 31, 2024

Later on in the quarter, Mazil found Bonelli for a 20-yard touchdown score, putting the Seahawks ahead by two scores. On the next possession, a miscue by the Dragons led to a safety with 6:21 left in the quarter, the first safety for Wagner since 2018. Sophomore Ryan Liszner concluded the first quarter scoring with a 31-yard field goal to make it 19-0.

Even though the Dragons found the end zone early in the second, the Seahawks continued the offensive fireworks with two more touchdowns courtesy of graduate student Jake Cady. In his first game as a Seahawk Cady found Bonelli and Kamau to make it 32-7 at the intermission.

TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS

Jake Cady connects with @BonelliJaylen to put the Seahawks up 25-7! #NECFB #LetsFly pic.twitter.com/5q2L4hBvcZ

— Wagner College Football (@Wagner_Football) August 31, 2024

The scoring concluded in the third quarter with two more touchdowns, courtesy of sophomore Teree McDonald and freshman Julio Tatis. 

Defensively, 13 different players recorded multiple tackles, while graduate student Christian Davis came up with the lone interception of the day for the Green and White. Wagner combined for four sacks and 11 tackles for loss. 

Saturday's win marks the first season-opening win for the Seahawks since 2018. The victory also marks the first time Wagner has scored 40 points in consecutive games since the final two games of the 2018 season. 

Wagner will be back in action on Saturday, September 7, when it hits the road to take on Lehigh. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.