STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The Long Island University football team (3-5, 3-0 NEC) held Wagner College to just 30 yards rushing and 226 total yards, as the Sharks outlasted the Seahawks 14-9 on Saturday night at Hameline Field to stay unbeaten and tied atop the NEC.
Running back
Sam Slade and quarterback
Luca Stanzani led LIU on offense, as the Sharks racked up 229 rushing yards. Slade ran 19 times for 121 yards, with one touchdown pass. Stanzani ran 17 times for 83 yards and a touchdown.
After the two sides traded punts through a scoreless first half, LIU struck first in the second half. Stanzani broke free up the middle for a 27-yard rushing touchdown, to cap a nine-play 73-yard drive that gave the Sharks a 7-0 lead with 10:23 remaining in the third quarter.
Wagner answered on the ensuing drive, scoring on a nine-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Benjamin Newman to wide receiver Christopher Harris, and later in the quarter took a 9-7 lead after a safety.
LIU's game-winning score came with 1:08 remaining in the third quarter. On a 4th-and-two play at the four-yard line, running back
Sam Slade took a direct snap and lobbed a pass over the top of the defense to tight end
Gianni Marino in the back of the endzone, giving the Sharks a 14-9 lead.
LIU's
Callum Brent punted eight times for 300 yards, with a long of 50 yards and an average of 37.5 yards. Kicker
Lance Maiberg went two-for-two on extra point attempts.
Defensively,
Rafael Fasolino led with eight total tackles.
Noah Livingston, Martavius Durden Jr., and
Rodney Mills each recorded a sack.
The Sharks return to action on Saturday, Oct. 24, versus Stonehill College. Opening kickoff at Shark Stadium is scheduled for 12 p.m.
