Nov. 15, 2003

Final Stats

STATEN ISLAND, NY - Senior receiver Sean Simmons caught ten passes for 113 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore DB Terek Henderson intercepted a pass and returned it 49 yards for a score, to lead Wagner College to a 24-16 win over Sacred Heart University in the Northeast Conference football finale for both teams.

Wagner, which finished the season 6-5 overall and 3-3 in the NEC, took a 7-0 lead on the final play of the first quarter on a one-yard run by fullback John Barrett. The Pioneers cut into the lead with a 26-yard field goal from senior Greg Tonzola with 9:44 left in the first half.

The two teams traded punts for most of the next quarter and a half. With 2:11 to go in the third quarter, Henderson stepped in front of a Joe Kroells pass intended for Nick Savino and raced 49 yards untouched for the score.

Simmons gave the Seahawks a 21-3 lead with 12:17 to go in the game on a 34-yard scoring strike from QB David Bateman.

The Pioneers rallied with 9:26 left, getting a nine-yard touchdown run from senior Jason Bonadies. It was his 13th TD run of the season. The PAT kick by Tonzola was blocked, giving Wagner a 21-9 edge.

SHU forced Wagner to punt after three plays on its next possession and sophomore Zack Kepner blocked the punt attempt, giving the Pioneers the ball on the Wagner 16. On the first play, Kroells hit Marlon Ward in the right back corner of the endzone to make it 21-16.

The Seahawks got the clinching score with 2:28 left on a 36-yard field goal by Robert Pate that capped a nine-play, 58-yard drive. The Seahawks were helped in the drive by 35 yards of penalties against the Pioneers.

The Pioneers had one last gasp, taking over on their own two with 2:28 left. After picking up one first down on a run by Kroells, the QB coughed up the ball when hit from behind and Kevin Hazzard fell on it for Wagner to end the SHU hopes.