STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Wagner football fell 19-7 to Mercyhurst on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Hameline Field.
After a scoreless first quarter, Mercyhurst (3-4, 2-0 NEC) struck first with 11:58 remaining in the second quarter to take a 6-0 lead. Midway through the period, senior quarterback
Jordan Barton connected with redshirt-senior
Malik Cooper for a 23-yard touchdown, capping an 11-play, 90-yard drive to give Wagner a 7-6 advantage.
Following Wagner's go-ahead score, the Lakers responded quickly with a 76-yard touchdown strike to reclaim a 12-7 lead they would not relinquish.
After forcing a fumble to open the second half, Mercyhurst capitalized with a seven-play, 46-yard drive to extend its advantage to 19-7. Despite several late pushes into Laker territory, Wagner was unable to convert, including a fourth-quarter drive that stalled inside the red zone.
The Seahawks finished with 304 yards of total offense, led by Barton, who went 10-of-16 for 123 yards and one touchdown, while sophomore
Jack Stevens added 60 yards through the air. Cooper's touchdown was one of 12 completions to six different receivers, including juniors
Teree McDonald (40 yards) and
Jeremiah Colclough (36 yards).
On the ground, junior
Sekou Kamau paced the rushing attack with 47 yards, while
Matt Morad and Andre Hines each added 27.
Defensively, senior
Sam Martin recorded a team-high 12 tackles, while senior
Jordan Johnson added 10, and junior
Jouvenson Romulus chipped in seven. The Seahawk defense limited Mercyhurst to 3.9 yards per carry and forced three punts inside the 20.
Wagner (1-5, 0-1 NEC) continues conference play next Saturday, hosting defending NEC champion Central Connecticut State for Homecoming Weekend on Hameline Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
Prior to the game, four former Seahawks will be inducted into the Wagner Athletics Hall of Fame, and the annual "Wagner Gameday" show will air live from the Oval beginning at 2:30 p.m.
