Laviano Tallies Four Touchdowns; Football Coasts Past Stonehill 27-7

EASTON, Mass. – Graduate student quarterback Chris Laviano accounted for four total touchdowns as the LIU Post football team rolled to a 27-7 victory against Stonehill College Sept. 15 at W.B. Mason Stadium. Laviano registered three scores through the air and added another on the ground during the win. After a shaky first half, Laviano completed 25 of his 34 pass attempts for 274 yards and added another 46 yards rushing. As a team, LIU Post amassed 400 total yards while limiting the Skyhawks to just 203 total yards of offense. On the receiving end, graduate student Michael Richardsonand redshirt-senior Deon Mash led the way with six catches apiece, totaling 89 and 77 yards, respectively. Richardson and redshirt-seniors Malik Pierre and Michael Hartgrove each hauled in their first receiving touchdowns of the season. The Pioneer defense dominated for the second-consecutive week, shutting out the Skyhawks for over three quarters. Sophomore Nazir Streater and senior Connor Farrell led the defensive efforts with eight tackles each. Graduate student Kevin Petit-Frere added 2.5 sacks, while redshirt-senior Kasim Thomas recorded an interception for the second-consecutive week. For the second-consecutive week, it was a slow start for LIU Post, scoring just six points during the first half on an 11-yard reception by Pierre just before the end of the second quarter after the Pioneers recorded three punts and two fumbles during their first five possessions. After a missed extra-point, LIU Post entered the locker room with a 6-0 advantage. Midway through the third quarter, Laviano called his own number, punching in a two-yard run to take a 13-0 lead. After the Pioneer defense forced a fumble, Laviano needed just four plays to go 39 yards, hooking up with Hartgrove for a 33-yard striketo begin to put the game out of reach. Stonehill got on the board with a 10-play, 86-yard drive that was capped off with a five-yard scamper by Sam Lehman, but the Pioneers forced a three-and-out and held the Skyhawks to just 44 yards on 10 plays on the game's final drive. Laviano added a final 32-yard touchdown pass to Richardson with 7:36 remaining for the final 27-7 scoreline. The Green and Gold return to Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 22 to play host to Bentley University at 1:00 p.m. LIU Post will honor the life of legendary coach and Hall of Famer Dom Anile '59 with special events throughout the weekend. For more information, please visit https://community.liu.edu/dominickanile.