Laviano posts four touchdowns to lead Pioneers to victory

Lehman scored the Skyhawks lone touchdown the first of his career tonight. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

EASTON, Mass. (September 15, 2018) – LIU Post pulled away in the second half to post a 27-7 victory over Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference football action on Family Weekend at Timothy J. Coughlin, '80 Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium tonight.

Postgrad Chris Laviano, a transfer from Division I FBS Rutgers University, accounted for all four LIU Post touchdowns, passing for three and rushing for another, to lead the Pioneers to victory in a game that remained scoreless until the final minute of the first half. He finished with 320 total yards, completing 25-of-34 passes for 274 yards and the three touchdowns without an interception, while adding another 46 yards on 12 carries with a score.

Postgrad Michael Richardson caught six passes for 89 yards and a touchdown, finishing with a game-high 148 all-purpose yards with another 61 yards on seven punt returns. Seniors Malik Pierre and Michael Hartgrove  each chipped in with touchdown catches, while Pierre added 53 yards on 14 yards on the ground to go with his six receptions for another 35 yards.

Athy posted six tackles, including 1.5 for a loss and a sack and forced fumble. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Postgrad Kevin Petit-Frere led a strong defensive effort for LIU which limited Stonehill to 203 total yards, including 45 on the ground, with five tackles (three solo), including 2.5 sacks for a loss of 11 and a quarterback hurry. Sophomore Anthony Lavio added six stops (four solo), including 3.0 for a loss of ten yards, with 1.0 sacks for a loss of three, a forced fumble and quarterback hurry. Junior Abel Joseph chipped in with five tackles (three solo), including 2.0 for a loss of nine, with 1.0 sacks for a loss of six, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and pass breakup.

Sophomore Sam Athy led a solid defensive effort for Stonehill with six tackles (three solo), including 1.5 for a loss of six yards, with 1.0 sacks for a loss of four, and a forced fumble. Junior Ryan Shuts added a career-high 11 stops (eight solo) and a pass breakup, with 69 yards on three kickoff returns, while sophomore Casey Earle registered a career-best 11 stops (seven solo), including 1.0 for a loss of two yards.

Junior Sam Lehman posted the first ten carries of his collegiate career tonight and finished with 45 yards and his first career touchdown to provide a bright spot on offense for Stonehill. Senior James Lam completed 20-of-37 passes for 158 yards, but was sacked five times and intercepted once. Junior Andrew Jamiel caught six of those passes for 48 yards.

The game was scoreless until deep into the first half, when LIU Post was finally able to gain some field position late in the second quarter. Laviano connected with Pierre for an 11-yard touchdown toss with 19-seconds remaining in the half. The Pioneers were hampered by 15 penalties for 143 yards on the night, as well as a Stonehill defense which held the visitors to 4-for-14 on third down, including 3-for-7 in the first half.

Shuts added a career-high 11 stops and averaged 23-yards on three kickoff returns. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

LIU Post took advantage of a bad snap on a Stonehill punt attempt that gave it the ball on the Skyhawks three-yard line, but the Pioneers still nearly squandered the chance with an offensive pass interference penalty pushing the ball back to the Stonehill 19 after two runs resulted in negative yards. Laviano got most of the yardage back with a 17-yard run on third down, before pushing the ball across on fourth to extend the lead on the Pioneers second possession of the second half. LIU Post took advantage of another short field for its third touchdown of the night as a 33-yard Laviano pass to Hartgrove capped a four play, 39-yard possession.

Stonehill got on the scoreboard less than five minutes into the fourth quarter with Lehman's first career touchdown off a five-yard run. However, LIU Post answered on its very next possession, with Laviano finding Richardson for a 32-yard touchdown pass at the end of a five-play, 80-yard drive.

Stonehill (1-2, 1-1 NE10) is back in action next Saturday, September 22, when it visits Southern Connecticut State University for an NE10 matchup at 6 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Saturday, October 15, to host Merrimack College for its Purple & White Game at W.B. Mason Stadium at 6 p.m. LIU Post (2-0, 2-0 NE10) hosts Bentley University next Saturday at 1 p.m.

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