Wagner College Athletics

Zion Fowler-El

Football

Football Travels to Merrimack for Non-Conference Matchup

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Wagner College football team will hit the road for a non-conference matchup against Merrimack on Saturday, Oct. 31. Kickoff is set for noon, with live coverage available on ESPN+ featuring John Avino and Jacob VanRyn on the call.

First and Ten

Wagner (1-7, 0-4 NEC) enters Saturday's matchup following a 52-21 loss to Duquesne on Saturday, Oct. 24.

The Seahawks finished with 332 yards of total offense, including 243 passing yards and 89 rushing yards, while Duquesne recorded 425 total yards, including 245 rushing yards and 180 passing yards.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Benjamin Newman completed 28-of-37 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior wide receiver Jeremiah Colclough led Wagner's receiving corps with four receptions for 53 yards and one touchdown, while senior Teree McDonald added four catches for 35 yards. Redshirt junior Zion Fowler-El finished with two receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown, while junior tight end Johans Bars recorded two catches for 16 yards and a score.

Defensively, senior Olanrewaju Adeyemi led the Seahawks with seven tackles, one sack and a forced fumble, while senior defensive back Freddie Camp added six tackles and two pass breakups.

Junior Julio Tatis finished with five tackles and an interception, while sophomore Evan Dukes added three tackles and a fumble recovery.

Newman Earns Second NEC Rookie of the Week Honor

Following Wagner's matchup against Duquesne, redshirt freshman quarterback Benjamin Newman earned his second Northeast Conference (NEC) Rookie of the Week honor of the season.

Newman earned the recognition after completing 28-of-37 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns against the Dukes.

The Rochester, N.Y., native completed 14-of-15 passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns in the opening half, marking his second game this season with three first-half touchdown passes.

Newman connected with 12 different receivers, 11 of whom recorded multiple receptions.

Newman previously earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors on Sept. 7 after completing 23-of-33 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns in Wagner's 31-7 victory over Southern Connecticut State.

Defensive Touchdowns

Last season, Wagner finished tied for first in the FCS with five defensive touchdowns.

This season, the Seahawks are tied for second in the FCS with 16 other teams, each recording two interception return touchdowns.

Junior defensive back Julio Tatis ranks tied for second in the NEC with three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

The Series

Saturday's matchup marks the fifth all-time meeting between Wagner and Merrimack, with the Warriors holding a 3-1 advantage in the series dating back to 2013.

The two programs met in three consecutive seasons from 2021-23 during Merrimack's tenure as a member of the NEC.

Scouting the Warriors

Merrimack, competing as an FCS independent, enters Saturday's matchup with a 3-5 overall record following a 23-17 home victory over New Hampshire.

The Warriors are led by head coach Mike Gennetti, who is in his third season at the helm of the program.

Merrimack averages 342.5 yards of total offense per game, while running back Matthias Latham leads the Warriors' rushing attack, averaging 72.1 yards per contest.

Preseason 2026

Wagner was selected fourth in the 2026 NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, marking the program's highest preseason ranking since 2019.

Five Seahawks were named to the 2026 Preseason All-NEC Team: senior defensive lineman Logan Barnes, redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Ethan Appolon, senior defensive back Shamar Williams, senior running back Sekou Kamau and senior offensive lineman Malik Wilson.

Wagner will play 12 games this season, including seven conference contests, five home games and two matchups against FBS opponents.

The Captains

Ahead of the season, senior defensive lineman Logan Barnes and junior quarterback Jack Stevens were selected by their teammates to serve as team captains.

Barnes was named a captain for the second consecutive season, while Stevens earned the honor for the first time.

What's Next

Following Saturday's matchup, Wagner will remain on the road for an NEC contest against Mercyhurst on Saturday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is set for noon in Erie, Pa.
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Players Mentioned

Olanrewaju Adeyemi

#6 Olanrewaju Adeyemi

DL
6' 4"
Graduate Student
Ethan Appolon

#5 Ethan Appolon

DL
6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Logan Barnes

#3 Logan Barnes

DL
6' 1"
Senior
Monmouth
Johans Bars

#84 Johans Bars

TE
6' 5"
Junior
Freddie Camp

#15 Freddie Camp

DB
6' 2"
Senior
Jeremiah Colclough

#4 Jeremiah Colclough

WR
5' 9"
Senior
Evan Dukes

#11 Evan Dukes

DB
5' 11"
Sophomore
Sekou Kamau

#0 Sekou Kamau

RB
6' 0"
Senior
Teree McDonald

#9 Teree McDonald

WR
5' 11"
Senior
Benjamin Newman

#10 Benjamin Newman

QB
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

Olanrewaju Adeyemi

#6 Olanrewaju Adeyemi

6' 4"
Graduate Student
DL
Ethan Appolon

#5 Ethan Appolon

6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
DL
Logan Barnes

#3 Logan Barnes

6' 1"
Senior
Monmouth
DL
Johans Bars

#84 Johans Bars

6' 5"
Junior
TE
Freddie Camp

#15 Freddie Camp

6' 2"
Senior
DB
Jeremiah Colclough

#4 Jeremiah Colclough

5' 9"
Senior
WR
Evan Dukes

#11 Evan Dukes

5' 11"
Sophomore
DB
Sekou Kamau

#0 Sekou Kamau

6' 0"
Senior
RB
Teree McDonald

#9 Teree McDonald

5' 11"
Senior
WR
Benjamin Newman

#10 Benjamin Newman

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
QB

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