WALTHAM, Mass. - Despite totaling over 100 more yards of offense than the hosts, the ninth-ranked LIU Post football team dropped a Northeast-10 Conference matchup at Bentley on Saturday afternoon at Bentley Field. 

The Pioneers (3-1, 2-1 NE10) fell behind early as the Falcons (3-1, 3-0 NE10) jumped out to a 19-0 lead just two-and-one-half minutes into the second quarter.  The green and gold got on the board on a 20-yard pass by graduate quarterback Yianni Gavalas (Manhasset, N.Y.) completed to senior wideout Michael Richardson (West Babylon, N.Y.) with 8:43 to play in the first half.

After a 29-yard touchdown by the home squad extending the lead to 26-7, LIU Post notched back-to-back scores on TD passes by Gavalas to Richardson and redshirt-junior wide receiver Amir Crenshaw (Bronx, N.Y.) bringing the Pioneers within five (21-26).

That would be as close as the visitors would get as Bentley added two fourth-quarter touchdowns to put the contest away at 40-21.

The Pioneers held an edge in first downs (24-19), rushing yards (172-102), passing yards (290-255), and total offense (462-357).

Gavalas finished the game going 37-for-47, good for 290 yards and three scores, but added two interceptions.  Redshirt-junior Malik Pierre (Holbrook, N.Y.) rushed for a season-high 123 yards on 14 carries, while Richardson totaled a team-high 66 receiving yards on seven receptions.

Next up for the Pioneers is a rematch of the 2016 NE-10 Championship game as they host No. 22 Assumption on Saturday (Sept. 30). The two teams are set to square off at 1 p.m. at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium.