Story and photo courtesy of Wagner Athletics
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Senior quarterback Nick Doscher totaled 186 yards of offense, junior running back Dominique Williams ran for 106 yards and the Seahawk defense caused five turnovers to lead Wagner past Colgate 31-20 in an NCAA Division I Championship game in front a 3,202 fans at chilly Hameline Field.
The third team to represent the NEC in the playoffs, the Seahawks will now travel to No. 2 seed Eastern Washington for a second-round matchup on Saturday, December 1. In posting the first-ever NCAA championship victory for the Northeast Conference (NEC), the Seahawks will now make the long trek to Eastern Washington on Saturday, December 1 at 6:00 pm (EST).
For the Green & White, it was their ninth consecutive win and broke the Red Raiders seven-game winning streak. After starting out the season 0-3, the Seahawks now stand at 9-3 on the year while Red Raiders, champions of the Patriot League, finish with a final mark of 8-4.
The Seahawks didn't commit a turnover, leaving them with just one in their last nine games and Doscher has now thrown 210 consecutive passes without an interception. His one and only interception on the year came in the second quarter of the season opener at FAU on August 31.
Wagner never trailed on Saturday in what was the Seahawks’ first NCAA game since 1988, when the team competed at the Division III level.
Wagner's defense stifled Colgate's dangerous rushing attack, led by quarterback Gavin McCarney and running back Jordan McCord, by holding the Raiders to just 296 yards. McCarney and McCord both rushed for touchdowns, however.
Wagner jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the game's first 17 minutes behind a Doscher six-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Anthony Carrington (Toms River, NJ/ Toms River) and a Williams 10-yard rushing touchdown. Doscher completed 11-of-19 passes while for 95 yards in the blustery conditions while adding a season-high 91 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Williams’ 106-yard day moved him into fourth place on the Seahawks' all-time rushing list. He has rushed for 100 or more yards in 20 of his 31 career games.
The defense forced five turnovers from McCarney - three fumbles and two interceptions - and held Colgate's fifth-ranked FCS rushing offense (294 yards per game) and third-ranked FCS scoring offense (41 points per game) well in check.