Wagner and Stony Brook are going home for good, but not before the two area Football Championship Subdivision programs acquitted themselves well last night in the Round of 16.
Wagner lost to No. 2 Eastern Washington, 29-19, in Cheney, Wash., while Stony Brook fell to third-seeded Montana State, 16-10, in Bozeman, Mont.
Wagner seemed completely in control, leading 19-14 late in the third quarter, but was unable to finish, a reversal from the norm during the Seahawks’ nine-game winning streak. Their biggest shortcoming was settling for field goals — four by David Lopez — while Eastern Washington took advantage of its opportunities to reach the end zone.
“The kids really gave it everything they had. We felt coming in if we could get to the fourth quarter we’d have a shot,” Wagner coach Walt Hameline said. “We just didn’t convert and put enough points on the board. … Against a good team like this, if you don’t put points up, you’re probably going to come up short.”
Wagner (9-4) won its first Northeast Conference title and became the first school from the league to win an FCS playoff game.
The Seahawks, however, had no answer for Eagles wide receiver Brandon Kaufman, who hauled in 10 receptions for 174 yards. Demitrius Bronson scored twice on the ground and Quincy Forte scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to give Eastern Washington (10-2) the lead for good late in the third quarter.
Dominique Williams had Wagner’s lone touchdown, a 1-yard run in the third quarter.
Stony Brook (10-3) shot itself in the foot with a pair of turnovers in Montana State (11-1) territory in each half.
Miguel Maysonet, the Seawolves’ star running back, picked up 83 yards on the ground, but lost a key fumble and quarterback Kyle Essington threw for 122 yards and a touchdown to Kevin Norrell.
Stony Brook had two chances while trailing in the final minutes, but both drives stalled.