LORETTO, Pa. – Freshman kicker
Nicholas Romero lifted Wagner past Saint Francis, 23–20, with a 28-yard game-winning field goal on Saturday afternoon at DeGol Field, giving the Seahawks their second straight NEC win.
After trailing 10–0 early in the second quarter, Wagner (3–6, 2–2 NEC) chipped away at the deficit with a 37-yard field goal from Romero before halftime. The freshman opened the third quarter with a 44-yard make, pulling the Seahawks within one possession. Moments later, senior Jayden Brown intercepted a Saint Francis pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown, giving Wagner its first lead of the day at 13–10 with 4:43 left in the third quarter.
Saint Francis (0–8, 0–4 NEC) briefly reclaimed the lead early in the fourth quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass to move ahead 17–13. Wagner responded with a 57-yard drive capped by an eight-yard touchdown run from graduate student Andre Hines Jr., regaining the advantage at 20–17. After Saint Francis tied the game at 20–20 with a field goal with 1:57 remaining, the Seahawks orchestrated a final 57-yard march in the closing seconds, setting up Romero's 28-yard game-winning field goal as time expired.
The last time Wagner won on a walk-off field goal was in 2013, when Bryan Maley's kick also sealed a 23–20 victory over Sacred Heart.
Wagner finished with 180 yards of total offense compared to SFU's 336 and capitalized on four Red Flash turnovers, including three fumble recoveries and Brown's interception return for a touchdown. Senior Sam Martin added nine tackles and a sack, while graduate student Akil Lampley posted a team-high 12 tackles, a forced fumble, and a tackle for loss. Senior Jordan Johnson contributed two fumble recoveries as Wagner extended its NEC lead in forced fumbles to 10 on the season.
Offensively, Hines led the rushing attack with 23 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore Matt Morad totaled 45 yards on the ground and added a team-high four receptions for 19 yards. Sophomore quarterback Jack Stevens went 12-of-15 for 66 yards, connecting with seven different receivers. Redshirt-senior Malik Cooper provided a key 19-yard run to spark Wagner's final drive, and Romero finished a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals (37, 44, 28) and 2-for-2 on extra points.
The win marks Wagner's third of the season and second straight in NEC play. The Seahawks are back in action on Saturday, November 8, against Robert Morris. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. in Moon Township, Pa.
