LIU Falls Short in Yet Another Heartbreaker
No one wants to be the best 0-4 team in the country. But that's just who the Long Island Sharks are.
Long Island University (LIU) fell just short of securing their first win of the season in a heartbreaker against Rhode Island, losing 28-21 after holding a late fourth-quarter lead. The Sharks, now 0-4, have been no strangers to tight, competitive games this season, and this contest was no exception, as they led with just over nine minutes to play before a late surge from the Rams sealed the victory.
Despite their winless record, LIU has consistently proven they can compete with top-tier FCS programs, and this game underscored that once again. After falling behind early 7-0, LIU responded in the second quarter with two unanswered touchdowns to take a 14-7 lead into halftime. Quarterback Luca Stanzani was instrumental in the comeback, connecting with Ludovick Choquette on a 28-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter. Later, Stanzani capped another drive with a 7-yard touchdown run, giving the Sharks the momentum going into the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, Rhode Island tied the game early in the fourth when running back Malik Grant, who finished the day with 141 rushing yards and three touchdowns, powered into the end zone from 11 yards out. However, LIU answered immediately, with Stanzani delivering a 42-yard strike to Michael Love, putting the Sharks back in front, 21-14, with just over nine minutes remaining.
Rhode Island's next possession saw the Rams march 81 yards in 11 plays, only to fumble the ball away on LIU’s 1-yard line. In what proved to be a critical moment, LIU fumbled the ball back just two plays later, giving Rhode Island a golden opportunity to tie the game. Quarterback Hunter Helms capitalized, scoring on a 4-yard run to knot things up at 21 with 3:43 left.
The Sharks, unable to muster a response, were forced into a three-and-out, giving the Rams one last chance to drive for the win. Rhode Island took full advantage, going 67 yards in seven plays, culminating in Grant’s third touchdown run of the game, an 8-yard scamper with just over a minute left. The Sharks’ final possession fell short, and Rhode Island escaped with the win.
For LIU, Stanzani had another solid outing, completing 16 of 27 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. He added a rushing touchdown as well, though he was sacked three times. Michael Love led the receiving corps with six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Choquette also made an impact, hauling in four passes for 32 yards and a score, in addition to 70 yards on the ground.
Despite the loss, LIU’s defense showed resilience, particularly in forcing two key fumbles. However, they couldn’t contain Grant, who seemed unstoppable down the stretch, especially during the Rams' final two drives.
This marks another tough defeat for a Sharks team that has consistently been in the mix late in games. All of their losses, aside from the blowout against TCU, have been by a single score, showing just how close they are to turning the corner. With a tough matchup against Villanova on the horizon, LIU will look to finally break through and get into the win column. But if their performance against Rhode Island is any indication, there’s no better 0-4 team in FCS football right now.
The Sharks will need to sharpen their late-game execution and eliminate costly mistakes, but they’ve shown they can compete with anyone, making them a dangerous team as they move into the heart of their schedule.
