Seahawks Fall At Campbell Despite Fulse’s 194 Rushing Yards

BLuies Creek, NC – The Wagner football team dropped a 49-3 decision at Campbell in its final non-conference game of the season despite another stellar performance by senior Preseason All-American running back Ryan Fulse, who ran for 194 yards on 25 carries on Saturday afternoon at Baker-Lane Stadium. With the loss, the Seahawks, who return to Northeast Conference (NEC) play on October 13 at home vs. Saint Francis U, fall to 1-5, while the Fighting Camels, who are competing in their first season as a member of the Big South Conference, improve to 5-1. Campbell raced out to a 21-3 lead after one quarter with the lone Seahawk points coming on a 37-yard field goal by left-footed sophomore Eric Silvester. The Camels then outscored Wagner 14-0 in the second quarter in building a 35-3 halftime lead en route to the victory. Quarterback Daniel Smith was just 5-of-14 passing for 120 yards on the day, with 84 of those years coming on a first-quarter TD toss to wide receiver Aaron Blockman that put Campbell on top, 14-3. But the hard-nosed redshirt-sophomore did most of his damage on the ground, gaining 151 yards on 16 carries, and three touchdowns, with one of those scores a second-quarter 66-yard TD run that extended the Camels' lead to 28-3. Running back Josh Jones also eclipsed the century mark on the ground for the Camels, finishing with 103 yards rushing on 11 carries. Without the services of graduate student T.J. Linta, senior Luke Massei gained the start at quarterback while graduate senior Grant Lindman also saw time behind center. The athletic Camels' defense hurried both Seahawk QBs into tough passing days. For the game, Massei, who hails from the Raleigh suburb of Cary, NC, just 37 miles north of the Campbell University campus, wound up 6-of-20 passing for 80 yards and three interceptions. Lindman, who was also under duress much of the time during his stint, finished 1-of-7 through the air for five yards, with one INT. Sophomore Scotty Forves also saw time at quarterback. Seeing the first action of his career, Forbes was credited with four yards rushing on two carries and did not attempts a pass. Promising sophomore defensive back Tajai Owens paced the Seahawks' injury-riddled defense with a career-high 10 tackles, including seven solo stops, which also marked a career best. Redshirt junior linebacker Santoni Graham and graduate student inside linebacker Justin Osuji, recorded eight and seven tackles on the afternoon, respectively. Despite the one-sided score, the 5-11, 195-pound Fulse was able to flash the skills that allowed him to enter the game second in the FCS with 732 yards. By halftime, the Fort Meade, FL native, who transferred in from New York's Monroe College prior to the 2017 season, had already reached the century mark as he finished the opening half with 106 yards on 17 carries. With his 194 yards on the ground vs. Campbell, Fulse, who ran for 1,306 yards a season ago, is again knocking on the door of the 1,000-yard mark as he is now to 926 rushing yards for the year. Following today's performance, Fulse has now rushed for 100 yards or more four times in seven games this season, eight times in his last 10 games, and 11 times in his 17-game Seahawk career. A week ago, during Wagner's 54-47 shootout loss at Monmouth, the 5-11, 195-pound speedster annexed the 2,000-yard rushing mark in just his 16th career game, and, following today's contest, now has 2,232 career rushing yards. Against Campbell, Fulse passed both Nick Doscher and Jason Butler, and now ranks eighth on the Wagner all-time rushing list. Ahead of Fulse, in seventh place, is Chris Davis (2000-03), with 2,342 yards. The Seahawks return to Northeast Conference (NEC) next time when they host the Saint Francis University Red Flash at Hameline Field on Saturday, October 13 in a Noon start on Hall of Fame Day. NOTE: Prior to the Wagner-SFU tilt the Green & White will welcome four new inductees into Wagner Hall of Fame in a morning ceremony at the Spiro Sports Center. The four enshrines will include Natosha Davis (Volleyball/Women's Lacrosse; 1997-01), men's basketball players and teammates Dedrick Dye (1999-03) and Jermaine Hall (1999-2003), along with former football great, Tom Masella (1978-81). The Hall of Fame Class of 2018 will also be recognized at halftime of the contest.