Bryant vs LIU Highlights | 2021 Spring College Football Highlights

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The Long Island University football team held Bryant University to just 263 yards of total offense as the Sharks took down the Bulldogs, 24-19 in its season-opener on Sunday, March 7 at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. The win marks the first victory for LIU since transitioning to Division I competition at the beginning of the 2019 season.

Ricco Aaron, Jr. tallied a team-best 11 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown during the second quarter. Jerome Brooks III and Dylan Cook added seven stops each and Tariq Snead intercepted Bryant quarterback Kory Curtis on the Bulldogs' final drive to help seal the victory.

Graduate transfer Conor Regan finished 18-for-24 passing on the day, throwing for 172 yards and one touchdown. Tosin Oyekanmi hauled in nine passes for 57 yards, while Davon Wells pulled down a 31-yard touchdown pass during the first half. On the ground, Jonathan DeBique posted 20 carries for 68 yards and one touchdown in his debut.

After five scoreless drives to begin the contest, Bryant posted the first points of the game with a 44-yard field goal from Luke Samperi. The Shark offense came to life from there, marching down the field with a 15-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off with a three-yard touchdown run through the right side for DeBique to give LIU the lead. The Blue and Gold never looked back from there, as moments later Aaron intercepted Curtis and ran 35-yards to the house to put the Sharks ahead 14-3.

A Bryant field goal made it a one-possession game midway through the second stanza, but LIU extended the lead once more before halftime when Regan found Wells down the middle of the field for the 31-yard touchdown strike. The Bulldogs entered the locker room with a bit of momentum, scoring on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Curtis to David Zorrilla who won a jump ball on the left sideline to make it 21-12 at the break.

The Bulldogs made it a two-point game early in the third quarter, scoring a touchdown on their second possession of the half. LIU stepped it up on defense after the score, forcing two-consecutive three-and-outs and four-straight punts overall. Paul Inzerillo extended LIU's lead with a 40-yard field goal with 4:34 remaining and Snead capped off the victory with a toe-touch interception as he was falling out of bounds on the home sideline.

The Sharks will look to build upon its fast start on the national stage next week when they take on Sacred Heart University on Sunday, March 14 at 1:00 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPN3 and NEC Front Row and can be streamed online or on any streaming device through the ESPN or NEC on the Run app.