LIU Post Staves Off Marauder Comeback

Saturday, October 20

Brookville, NY

1 PM

Millersville University

2-6 , 1-4

LIU Post

3-4 , 2-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Millersville

LIU Post

LIU Post Staves Off Marauder Comeback

10/20/2012 7:16:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Brookville, N.Y. - Millersville trailed LIU Post 13-0 early in Saturday's PSAC East tilt but rallied to within one score thanks in part to two fourth quarter interceptions by the Marauder defense. The comeback stalled, however, and the Pioneers were able to run out the clock and send the Marauders home with a 20-15 loss.

Millersville (2-6, 1-4 PSAC East) picked off three passes, and the two in the fourth quarter were key. The first, by Nate Hinkle, halted a Pioneer (3-4, 2-3 PSAC East) drive at the Millersville 18, keeping the Marauders within striking distance. Then with just over five minutes remaining, Lou Brown picked off his third pass of the season and returned the ball 47 yards to the LIU post 33. A 15-yard penalty on the Pioneers put the Marauder offense in prime position.

Three rushes from Ian Sadon on a four-yard run by Myron Myles pulled Millersville to within 20-15 with 3:48 to play. The two-point conversion failed, however.

LIU Post quarterback Steven Laurino had sat out the entire game with an injury but entered on the final drive just in time to save his Pioneers. While the Marauder defense had risen to the occasion all game, it could not take the ball back from Pioneers on the final drive. Using his legs and running back Anthony Brunetti, the Pioneers ran 13 plays and chewed up every second left on the clock.

Millersville also played without its starting quarterback for the majority of the game. Ted Stachitas went 3-for-4 for 34 yards and made a couple of first down runs before leaving the game in the first quarter with an injury. Starting running back Mike Jones did not play a single snap. In his absence, Sadon shouldered the load.

Sadon rushed for a career-high 138 yards on 11 carries, and his 75-yard touchdown run with 11:47 left in the second quarter put Millersville in position for a comeback.

Unfortunately for the Marauders, LIU Post also produced its share of explosive plays. The first score of the game came on an 82-yard pass with 53 seconds left in the first quarter. The Pioneers' two other scores came as a direct result of interceptions. The lead extended to 13-0 when Thomas Beverly scored on a two-yard TD run that was set up when Connor Casey was picked off at the 50 and the ball was returned to the Millersville 29. Casey's second interception ended up on the Millersville one.

Casey shook off the interceptions to pilot all of Millersville's scoring drives. He completed 13-of-26 passes for 106 yards.

Millersville's defense was led by Rasheed Johnson's 10 stops. Freshman Quinn West intercepted his second pass in as many weeks.

Millersville travels to Kutztown on Oct. 27 for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff.