Bentley Hands Football First Loss of 2013, 38-24
Box Score
WALTHAM, Mass. (Sept. 20, 2013) - On Friday evening, the LIU Post football team was outscored 21-7 in the fourth quarter, en route to a 38-24 defeat at Bentley in Waltham, Mass. With the loss, the Pioneers fell to 2-1 overall, and 1-1 versus Northeast-10 Conference opposition.
Though the hosts struck first on a 32-yard field goal in the first quarter, LIU Post answered on the next series. Two plays after a 17-yard completion to red-shirt freshman wide receiver Tom Hannan (Bohemia, N.Y.), junior quarterback Steven Laurino (Boise, Idaho) hit Joe Botti (Holtsville, N.Y.) for a 24-yard score, making it a 7-3 game.
Bentley (2-1, 1-1 NE-10) got its three-point lead back, however, six minutes into the second period. On the play, junior running back Jet Kollie (Lowell, Mass.) scampered 40 yards to the end zone. Kollie, who finished the contest with a game-best 111 rushing yards, and the Falcons would take that edge into the break.
Halfway into the third quarter, the visitors capitalized on a key pair of turnovers to go ahead. A Kareem Folkes (Brooklyn, N.Y.) interception, and a James Rupp (Sayville, N.Y.) fumble recovery, led to a Pioneers' touchdown, and a Karsten Viste (Randaberg, Norway) field goal, respectively.
The TD came via a six-yard catch by red-shirt freshman wide receiver Michael Richardson (West Babylon, N.Y.). But, Bentley tied things up before the end of the stanza, off a 15-yard score from Danny Guadagnoli (Framingham, Mass.) to Jeff Hill (Mansfield, Mass.).
In the final 15-minute session, LIU Post scored on its opening drive to re-claim the seven-point cushion (24-17). Red-shirt freshman running back Mike Williams (Westbury, N.Y.) accounted for the touchdown on a run that originated from the opponent's 48-yard line.
Yet, the Falcons fired back with three unanswered TD's, which put the game away for good. Chris Walsh (Attleboro, Mass.) had a 65-yard catch to even the score at 24-apiece, while Hill added a pair of touchdown receptions from 25 and 34 yards out to clinch it for the hosts.
Laurino wrapped up the game with 196 yards passing (16-for-31) and a pair of scores. Defensively, senior linebacker Rob Bright (East Meadow, N.Y.) led all players with 13 tackles. Rupp contributed eight tackles, along with the recovered fumble. Junior defensive lineman David Sumter (Hollis, N.Y.) tallied six tackles, 3.5 of which were for a loss, and 1.5 sacks.
Head Coach Bryan Collins and the Pioneers return to action next Saturday (Sept. 28) in West Haven, Conn. at NE-10 foe New Haven. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.