Date:  Saturday, Nov. 17, 12:00 p.m.
Location: Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium | Brookville, N.Y.
Game Links:  Watch Live | Live Stats 
Twitter: @LIUPostPioneers | @LIUPFB
LIU Post Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats
Slippery Rock Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats 
 
THE FIRST LOOK

LIU Post is back in the NCAA Division II Tournament after coming just short a year ago. The Pioneers (10-0) earned the number two seed in Super Region I, earning home field advantage through at least the first two weeks of the postseason if they were to advance to round two. Slippery Rock University (9-2) earned the final spot in the regional bracket after suffering a tough 33-10 loss at West Chester University for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship last Saturday.

INSIDE THE SERIES
 
Saturday marks just the fourth meeting all-time between the two squads with LIU Post holding a 2-1 edge during the first three meetings. LIU Post and Slippery Rock have not met since 2010 when the Pioneers earned a 42-38 victory during the NCAA Championship on the road. Prior to that matchup, the two schools had not clashed since the 1977 season when Slippery Rock earned its only victory of the series, 26-10 on their home turf.

LIU POST NOTES
 
A win against Slippery Rock would:
 

• Extend LIU Post's Division II Best Win Streak to 16 Games
• Improve LIU Post to 3-1 all-time against Slippery Rock
• Give the Pioneers 11 wins in a season for the fourth time in program history
• Be the 161^st career victory for head coach Bryan Collins

 

• During the 15-game win-streak, LIU Post is outscoring opponents 573-226
• LIU Post is one of nine unbeaten teams in Division II and one of three unbeatens in Super Region I (Notre Dame (OH) (11-0), West Chester (10-0))

 
Defense:
 

• LIU Post ranks seventh in red zone defense in Division II (.611)
• The Pioneers have the fifth best scoring defense, allowing 12.2 points per game
• The Pioneers rank 15^th in the country with 16 interceptions, while sophomore Nazir Streater ranks ninth with six interceptions
• Graduate student defensive end Kevin Petit-Frere ranks sixth in the nation for total sacks (10.5)
  • Petit-Frere is a Super Region I nominee for the Gene Upshaw award for the top lineman in Division II

 
Offense:
 

• Graduate student quarterback Chris Laviano ranks in the top-25 in the following categories:
  • Completions Per Game (20.5)
  • Passing Yards (2,536)
  • Passing Yards Per Game (253.6)
• Redshirt-senior wide receiver Michael Richardson ranks 18^th in Division II with 10 touchdown receptions
• Redshirt-senior running back Malik Pierre needs 65 rushing yards to eclipse 3,000 yards for his career
  • Pierre needs 85 all-purpose yards to reach 5,500 for his career

 
SCOUTING SLIPPERY ROCK
 
The Rock ranked third in the PSAC in scoring after averaging 38.6 points per game. Slippery Rock led the conference in total offense, tallying over 465 yards per game. The defensive unit allows an average of nearly 325 yards of offense per game and an even 22 points per game.
 
Wes Hills is the top rushing threat for Rock, averaging over 130 rushing yards per game while also scoring 12 touchdowns. In a win against California University of Pennsylvania, Hills carried the ball 33 times for 248 yards and four touchdowns, marking one of three 200-yard rushing performances on the season. Under center, Roland Rivers III is a dual-threat quarterback who ranked third in the PSAC with 236 passing yards per game, while also rushing for nearly 50 yards per game. Rivers has tossed 22 touchdowns while also throwing nine interceptions, but has been slowed down by some of the league's top defenses. During the loss to West Chester, Rivers completed less than 20-percent of his attempts and threw three interceptions.
 
Jermaine Wynn Jr. and Henry Litwin are the top two receivers for Slippery Rock, each hauling in seven touchdowns on the year, though no receiver on the roster averages more than four receptions or 65 yards per game.
 
Defensively, Brad Zaffram leads the team with 70 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss. Chad Kuhn and Trey Blandford have been a force in the pass rush, compiling over seven sacks each, while Tim Soave adds 5.5 sacks. Kyle Hall leads a secondary unit 56 tackles and seven interceptions on the year
 
 
TICKET AND STREAMING INFORMATION

Tickets will be sold to all fans in attendance for Saturday's first round matchup. General admission tickets are available for $10 and senior citizens, children, and college students with valid I.D. will be admitted for $5. No complimentary tickets are available per NCAA regulations. Fans that cannot make it to Brookville can catch all the action through a free web broadcast at www.liupostpioneers.com/live or on the ECC Network app available in the iTunes and Google Play Store, as well as on Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and Roku.