SMITHFIELD, R.I. – A pass from junior quarterback Clay Beathard on fourth down fell incomplete inside the five-yard line as the Long Island University football team came up just short at Bryant University, 27-22, in the Northeast Conference Game of the Week on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Beirne Stadium.
 
The Sharks battled back from a two-possession deficit twice during the contest but could not complete the comeback effort against the Bulldogs. LIU moved the chains a season-high 21 times, while also setting a season-high in points (22) and passing yards (229). Redshirt-senior wideout Jake Bofshever hauled in a career-high 10 catches and tallied a career-best 110 receiving yards. Redshirt-junior Alex Daubon hauled in his first career touchdown catch, while Beathard completed 50-percent of his passes (21-42) for a season-best 229 yards and one touchdown. Beathard also added two touchdowns on the ground, scrambling into the end zone from the two-yard line twice.

On the defensive end,  junior Abdoulaye Konate led LIU with nine tackles and one blocked punt and junior Jerome Brooks III added six tackles and one interception.
 
LIU won the opening coin toss and deferred possession until the second half. Bryant took full advantage of the game's first possession, as Andrew Brackett returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown just 16 seconds into the game. The Bulldogs added a 33-yard field goal on their following possession to take a 10-0 lead after the first quarter.
 
Beathard found freshman Owen Glascoe for a 16-yard gain down to the Bryant one-yard line on the final play of the first quarter, setting up the first of Beathard's touchdown runs to make it 10-7. Graduate student Abel Joseph recorded his second career blocked punt on Bryant's next possession, though the Sharks were unable to capitalize on the great field position. Later in the quarter the defense stepped up again, as junior Tavon Joseph stripped Bryant quarterback Kory Curtis on a sack and Abel Joseph pounced on the loose ball to give LIU possession on the Bulldogs' 20-yard line. Redshirt-freshman Briant DeFelice knocked home a 30-yard field goal on the ensuing possession to tie the score at 10-10 at the half.
 
Despite receiving the second-half kickoff, the Sharks fumbled on the first play of the third quarter and gave Bryant possession on the five-yard line. The Bulldogs once again took full advantage, throwing a five-yard touchdown pass on the following play to retake the lead at 17-10. Later in the quarter Bryant extended the lead even further when Daniel Adeboboy broke loose for a 37-yard touchdown run, giving the Bulldogs a 24-10 lead at the end of the quarter.
 
On the first play of the final quarter, Bryant kicked a 31-yard field goal for the game's largest lead at 27-10 before the comeback effort for the Sharks began. On its first possession of the fourth quarter, LIU marched 70 yards on eight plays, ending the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Beathard to Daubon. LIU's extra point attempt was no good, however, as the Sharks continued to trail 27-16. Late in the quarter, Konate broke through the line and blocked another Bryant punt, giving the Sharks possession on Bryant's 14-yard line. On 3rd-and-10, Beathard connected with Bofshever to pick up a first down inside the five yard line and Beathard ran for his second touchdown on the next play to make it a one-possession game (27-22) with five minutes to play.
 
After allowing a first down, LIU's defense knocked Bryant back for a loss on three-consecutive plays, regaining possession with 2:47 to play. Beathard completed his first three passes of the drive to move the ball down to Bryant's 37-yard line before the momentum stalled. After a sack and an incomplete pass, LIU faced 4th-and-6 from the Bryant 35-yard line. Beathard attempted to drop a pass in over the top of the Bryant secondary, but he was unable to connect with sophomore Steven Chambers down the left sideline, as Bryant held on for the 27-22 victory.
 
LIU returns to Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium next week for a matchup with St. Francis University (Pa.) on homecoming. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.