Balanced Attack Gives Football 46-26 Win Over Clarion
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Sept. 8, 2012) – LIU Post opened its 2012 season with a 46-26 win over Clarion University in a non-conference football contest played Saturday afternoon on Hickox Field.
LIU Post improves to 1-0 overall while Clarion slips to 1-1. The Pioneers' 46 points were the high season opening total since 2005 when they opened with a 48-6 win over Pace University.
LIU Post scored the first touchdown of the game with 2:39 left to play in the first quarter when sophomore quarterback
Steven Laurino (Boise, Idaho) completed a 49-yard pass to senior wide receiver
Ryan Derham (Lindenhurst, N.Y.).
The Pioneers' offense continued to play well into the second quarter and put up 33 more points. Freshman tight end
Sean Binckes (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hauled in a 10 yard completion from Laurino at 14:39.
LIU Post caught a break when junior outside linebacker
Chris DiIorio (Holtsvile, N.Y.) intercepted a pass attempt from Clarion quarterback Ben Fiscus at the 50-yard line on the second play of the Golden Eagles' first series in the second quarter that set up for an eventual 17-yard TD run from Laurino for the game's third score.
The Golden Eagles finally got on the board in their next drive when Bobby Thomas rushed in from the 2-yard line at 8:21. Fiscus converted a successful 2-pt completion pass to Rob Irwin to cut the score to 18-8.
The Pioneers kept on coming and scored in their next series with a dramatic TD play as Laurino sprinted with the ball for 24 yards before Clarion's Mike Zak punched the ball out of his hands at the LIU Post 41. The play continued on as senior tight end
Pat Fitzgerald (Asheville, N.C.) recovered the ball and broke away from the pack for a 59-yard score to give the Pioneers a 25-8 lead.
Weather also played a factor in the game with the wind knocking down numerous passes and kicks. The Pioneers were able to capitalize on their next kickoff when a Clarion returner touched the ball on the reception but could not control and LIU Post was able to recover it at the Clarion 27. The drive resulted with a 13-yard pass from Laurino to junior
Joe Botti (Holtsville, N.Y.).
The Pioneers added one more score before the end of the half when Laurino broke through for a 1-yard score to lead 39-8.
In the third quarter, the Pioneers got more help on their defense as sophomore defensive lineman
David Sumter (Hollis, N.Y.) forced a fumble on a sack during the Golden Eagles' first series and Laurino rushed in his second touchdown of the day.
Clarion got one back in the next drive as Fiscus broke through from the Clarion 12 and ran it all the way back for an 88-yard touchdown.
The Golden Eagles added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter that included a pair of completion passes from Fiscus to Jon Reid and Mark Nicholas.
In all, LIU Post recorded 375 offensive yards on 58 plays, including 285 yards on the ground. Laurino completed 5 of 10 pass attempts for 90 yards and three TD's.
Defensively, senior defensive back
Antonio Powell-Fields (Hempstead, N.Y.) led the Pioneers with 12 tackles and a break up while sophomore
Joe Thompson (Cambria Heights, N.Y.) recorded two sacks totaling 25 yards along with three QB hurries.
For Clarion, the Golden Eagles led the game with 538 offensive yards on 74 plays. Fiscus completed 18 of 31 pass attempts for 280 yards and two touchdowns. Bobby Thomas led the team in rushing with 158 yards on 25 carries. Nate Sipes led the team with nine tackles.
LIU Post returns to action on the road next Saturday at Cheyney University for a 1 p.m. start.