BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – On Military Appreciation/First Responders' Day, redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Greenwood threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another to lead the Long Island University football team (4-6, 2-3 NEC) past two-time defending NEC champion Duquesne University (5-5, 3-2), 29-11, on Saturday afternoon at Shark Stadium.
In total, Greenwood completed nine of 15 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns while gaining 91 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts on the ground.
Redshirt junior running back O'Shawn Ross, Jr. posted another strong performance, rushing for a game-high 92 yards on 17 attempts. Ross, Jr. also caught three passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.
On its second drive of the opening quarter, LIU took advantage of a short field to get on board first as Greenwood ran 20-yards to pay dirt.
Redshirt junior quarterback Luca Stanzani came in and connected with redshirt senior tight end Jaiden Dozier for a two-point pass to put the Sharks up 8-0.
Duquesne cut the LIU lead to 8-3 with 17 seconds remaining in the first quarter on a Matt Clark 29-yard field goal.
LIU extended its advantage to 15-3 late in the second quarter as Greenwood connected with Ross, Jr. on a 12-yard pass play for a score with 3:08 remaining until halftime.
In the second half, redshirt junior defensive back Trey Watkins grabbed his FCS-leading fifth interception, returning it 30 yards to the house to increase the LIU lead to 22-3 with 7:36 remaining in the third quarter.
Greenwood then connected with redshirt junior tight end Jaron Kelly on a nine-yard scoring pass with 22 seconds remaining in the third quarter to extend LIU's advantage to 29-3 heading into the final 15 minutes of play.
Duquesne marched 73 yards on 10 plays in 3:16 to open the fourth quarter, capped by quarterback Tyler Riddell's eight-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Johnson.
Riddell then connected with Shawn Soloman Jr. on the two-point conversion to make the score 29-11 with 11:44 remaining in the contest.
Defensively, redshirt senior defensive end Breon Askins led the way for LIU with nine tackles (7 solo, 2 assisted).
Junior linebacker Jeremie McGurn had seven tackles (6 solo, 1 assisted) while redshirt sophomore defensive back Jalen Bell followed with six tackles (4 solo, 2 assisted).
Watkins added six tackles (5 solo, 1 assisted) and an interception while redshirt freshman defensive back Braylon Vincent recorded his third interception of the season.
Senior defensive back Norman Massey, sophomore defensive back Marshall Washington Jr, and redshirt freshman defensive lineman Rodney Mills all contributed tackles for loss for the Sharks.
Sophomore defensive tackle Scoop Gardner, Jr. and freshman defensive lineman Naquan Johnson both recorded sacks for the hosts to round out a strong effort by the LIU stop unit.
Up next, LIU will travel to Loretto, Pennsylvania next Saturday for an NEC matchup with Saint Francis. Kickoff at DeGol Field is slated for 12 p.m.
