RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 3, 2016) - On Saturday, the LIU Post football team kicked off the 2016 campaign with a 14-12 win over Virginia Union University in a non-conference tilt at Hovey Field.

Leading 7-6 in the second quarter, the Pioneers (1-0) got their only touchdown of the game in the final minute to bring a 14-6 advantage into the locker room. Senior quarterback Jeff Kidd (Salem, Ore.) hooked up with red-shirt junior wide receiver James Higgins (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) for the score, on a 14-yard pass at the 29-second mark.

In the third quarter, the Panthers (0-1) had an early opportunity to cut into the deficit, but sophomore kicker JeanClaude Brooks (Charlotte, N.C.) missed a 21-yard field goal to keep it an eight-point game.

Then, in the fourth quarter, red-shirt junior defensive back Jared Chester (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) intercepted a key pass at the Pioneers' 12-yard line to hold Virginia Union off the scoreboard. Chester had two picks on the afternoon, to go with seven tackles (two solo, five assist) and three pass break-ups.

The Panthers did manage to close the gap to 14-12 in the final minute-plus, on a two-yard touchdown pass by red-shirt senior quarterback Shawheem Dowdy (Baltimore, Md.). However, Dowdy's game-tying two-point conversion attempt failed to keep the green and gold ahead.

Red-shirt senior outside linebacker Justin Ortiz (Staten Island, N.Y.) then recovered the subsequent onside kick to secure the victory for LIU Post.

Kidd completed 13-of-33 passes on the day for 106 yards and one touchdown. Senior running back David White (Bronx, N.Y.) took 16 handoffs for a team-high 73 rushing yards. Red-shirt senior wide receiver Shane Hubbard (St. Albans, N.Y.) caught four passes for 28 yards receiving.

Senior linebacker Nate Feliz (Bronx, N.Y.) led the Pioneers defensively with 11 tackles (six solo, five assist). Red-shirt junior defensive lineman Jess Agbotse (Hackensack, N.J.) collected 10 tackles (four solo, six assist). Sophomore linebacker Connor Farrell (Holtsville, N.Y.) added eight tackles (six solo, two assist).

Head Coach Bryan Collins and the Pioneers return to the gridiron next Saturday (Sept. 10), when they host University of New Haven in their 2016 Northeast-10 Conference opener at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. The opening kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.