Football Stays Hot, Routs Bentley, 38-3

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Redshirt-senior Malik Pierre ran for 107 yards and one touchdown and the LIU Post football team remained perfect with a 38-3 rout of Bentley University Saturday, Sept. 22 at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. It was a fitting end to an incredible weekend on the LIU Post campus as the Pioneers honored legendary Hall of Famer Dom Anile last evening and prior to kickoff, presenting his two sons, Dom and Gary, with two football helmets and a No. 62 jersey, the number worn by Anile as a player at LIU Post. The Pioneer defense was outstanding for the third-consecutive week, holding Bentley to just three points on a field goal during the game's opening drive. Despite allowing a season-high 327 yards of offense, LIU Post limited Bentley to just four conversions on 18 third down attempts. Senior Connor Farrell led the Pioneers with 11 total tackles, while redshirt-senior Jake Carlock had a phenomenal day on the defensive side of the ball. The fifth-year linebacker added five tackles, two pass breakups, and an electrifying blocked punt and touchdown during the second quarter. Offensively, the Green and Gold eclipsed 400 yards of total offense for the second straight game, led by 107 yards on the ground by Pierre. Graduate student quarterback Chris Laviano completed 18-of-33 passing attempts for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt-senior Michael Richardson grabbed a team-high six receptions for 49 yards and one touchdown, while Pierre added five catches for 54 yards and redshirt-senior Amir Crenshaw hauled in one reception for 49 yards. After limiting the Falcons to a field goal on the game's opening drive, both sides traded four-consecutive punts before LIU Post put together a 69-yard drive capped off with a 10-yard touchdown run by Pierre to give the Pioneers a lead they would never relinquish. Sophomore Nazir Streater and redshirt-junior Zach Cofrancescoteamed up for an interception on Bentley's ensuing drive, as Streated broke up a pass attempt down the right sideline right into the arms of Confrancesco to halt Bentley's momentum for good. The highlight of the afternoon came midway through the second quarter when Carlock gave LIU Post a double-digit lead after he fired up the middle on a deep punt attempt and blocked Jack O'Hanlon's kick and swallowed up the loose ball in the end zone for his first touchdown as a Pioneer. The 14-3 scoreline held into halftime, but it did not take long for the Pioneers to extend the advantage as Laviano connected with Richardson in the back-right corner of the end zone on a 23-yard strike less than four minutes into the second half to make it a three-score game. Laviano added his final touchdown pass of the day when he found junior Tim Marinan on a screen pass from the 16-yard line and Marinan danced his way into the end zone for his second score of the season. Redshirt-freshman Jonathan DeBique added an exclamation point to the victory with a 23-yard rushing touchdown during the fourth quarter to seal the 35-point victory. The Pioneers improve to 3-0 on the season and 3-0 in Northeast-10 Conference play to remain atop the standings through week four. Bentley slips to 1-3 on the year and 1-2 in conference play. LIU Post takes to the road for the next two weeks, beginning with a 1:00 p.m. matchup at Merrimack College at Martone-Mejail Field on Saturday, Sept. 29.