BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The Long Island University football team closed out its 2019 season on Saturday, Nov. 23, coming up just short in a non-conference tilt with Merrimack College at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium.
 
The Sharks saluted eight graduating seniors prior to kickoff, honoring Grant Ibeh, Ramshar Clarke, Andrew Chiarelli, Justin DeGroat, Jake Bofshever, Andrew Ferriolo, Abel Joseph, and Tim Marinan for their commitment to the program during their careers.
 
Despite trailing by as many as 17 points, LIU stormed back late in the contest to make it a one-score game with 6:46 to play. A Merrimack touchdown moments later halted the Blue and Gold's momentum and ultimately put the lead out of reach for good.
 
The LIU scoring began when freshman quarterback Camden Orth scrambled away from pressure on 4th-and-15 and found Bofshever in the back-right corner of the end zone for a highlight-reel touchdown. The Sharks drove down the field on their next possession, traveling 49 yards on 12 plays before redshirt-freshman Briant DeFelice drilled a 38-yard field goal to bring LIU within one touchdown.

Merrmimack returned the ensuing kickoff 73 yards to the LIU 8-yard line, finding the end zone two plays later for the deciding score.
 
Orth was outstanding in relief during the second half, finishing 11-for-19 passing for 170 yards and one touchdown. Bofshever led all Shark receivers with five receptions for 61 yards and one touchdown. Redshirt-junior Alex Daubon hauled in one catch for 45 yards, while Redshirt-sophomore Tosin Oyekanmi added four catches for 55 yards.
 
On the defensive side, junior Abdoulaye Konate tallied an LIU season-high 14 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Junior Joe Amalfitano notched six tackles and one sack, while junior Jerome Brooks III added six stops as well.