Football Comes Up Short Versus Merrimack, 26-21
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Oct. 5, 2013) - Trailing 26-14 in the fourth quarter, the LIU Post football team scored a touchdown early to slice the deficit to five, but that was as close as it got, in a 26-21 defeat against Merrimack in a Northeast-10 Conference match-up at Hickox Field in Brookville, N.Y.
The Pioneers wasted no time getting on the board, scoring on the opening series. An 11-play, 68-yard drive in 4:19 was capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass from red-shirt junior quarterback Steven Laurino (Boise, Idaho) to red-shirt freshman running back Mike Williams (Westbury, N.Y.).
As the first quarter came to a close, however, the Warriors drove down inside the five, via a pair of 20-plus yard passes by senior quarterback Joe Clancy (Newburyport, Mass.). Merrimack (3-2, 2-2 NE-10) would eventually settle for a Nick Zwaan (Longmeadow, Mass.) field goal at the start of the second quarter, making it a 7-3 game.
One series later, the Warriors, who took over at their own 33 after a Laurino interception, grabbed the lead, as Clancy and Jere Brown (Freeport, N.Y.) hooked up for an eight-yard touchdown reception.
The hosts responded though on the ensuing drive to go back in front. Laurino completed five straight passes over a four-and-a-half minute stretch, including a 27-yard throw to red-shirt senior wide receiver Joe Botti (Holtsville, N.Y.) that went for seven (14-10).
Yet, the visitors had the final score of the half to grab a 17-14 advantage at the break. Clancy and Brown teamed up for another touchdown at the 35-second mark.
Merrimack commanded play in the third quarter, outscoring the opposition by a 9-0 count, to extend its cushion to 26-14. Two of the points came when red-shirt freshman quarterback Matt Brennan (Sayville, N.Y.) was called for intentional grounding in his own end zone, which awarded a safety to the Warriors.
In the final 15-minute session, the Pioneers nearly pulled off a miraculous rally. It started on their opening drive of the fourth quarter, when red-shirt freshman wide receiver Michael Richardson (West Babylon, N.Y.) rushed 16 yards for a TD. That closed the gap to 24-16 with over 11 minutes to go in regulation.
The green and gold kept Merrimack at bay offensively in the stanza (73 total yards), but were unable to find the end zone one last time. On a pair of fourth-and-manageable passes in plus-territory, Brennan threw incompletions, forcing a turnover on downs during each possession, and sealing LIU Post's (2-3, 1-3 NE-10) fate.
Laurino completed 19-of-29 for 218 yards and two touchdowns, while Brennan was 10-of-20 for 75 yards. In the air attack, Williams hauled in nine catches for 103 yards and a score. Botti added six receptions for 51 yards and a TD.
On defense, sophomore linebacker Julian Santiago (Selden, N.Y.) totaled 15 tackles. Fellow linebacker Rob Bright (East Meadow, N.Y.) recorded 12 tackles. Junior defensive lineman David Sumter (Hollis, N.Y.) accrued four tackles, and a game-best nine quarterback hurries.
Head Coach Bryan Collins and the Pioneers return to action next Saturday (Oct. 12) in Springfield, Mass. at NE-10 rival American International. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.