BROOKVILLE, N.Y. - After three consecutive road games, the Long Island University football team (1-5, 0-2 NEC) returns home on Saturday to face Robert Morris University (1-5, 0-1 NEC). Opening kickoff at Shark Stadium is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Saturday is Nassau County Day as LIU Athletics honors the local community. The Department of Athletics will also honor the women's lacrosse team, who claimed their second consecutive NEC championship last spring, in a halftime ceremony.

Television coverage is available digitally on NEC Front Row, featuring the "Voice of the Sharks" Phil Constantino and former LIU assistant football coach Jim Wright. Radio coverage is available on the LIU Sharks Audio Network via the Varsity Network App with veteran college football broadcaster Mike Murabito and former FCS quarterback Evan Cormier on the call.
 

Quick Facts
THE STORYLINE: This will be just the second home game for LIU this season after 35 days away from Shark Stadium. Starting this Saturday, the Sharks play at home four times in the final six weeks of the season.

SERIES HISTORY: Saturday's game marks the fifth meeting between these two programs dating back to the first meeting, a 35-6 Robert Morris victory on November 16, 1996, in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. RMU holds a 4-0 all-time series edge.

This is the third all-time meeting in Division I between the two programs. The two sides met in 2019 and again last season, in a game RMU outlasted LIU, 45-31, via two late-fourth-quarter touchdowns.

THE OPPONENT: Robert Morris enters Saturday's game with a 1-5 overall record and a 0-1 mark in the NEC. The Colonials have lost three consecutive games and are 0-3 on the road this season.

This is RMU's second season since returning to the NEC from the Big South-OVC. LIU and RMU were picked in tie for third place in the NEC Coaches' Poll prior to the start of this season.

LAST TIME OUT: A second-half comeback effort fell short as LIU dropped its first-ever meeting with new NEC foe Mercyhurst University, 22-13, on October 4 at Saxon Stadium.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Howell, who was making his second start of the season, completed 15 of 27 passes for 167 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Howell also rushed the ball six times for a team-high 32 yards. Graduate wide receiver Deion Richardson led LIU in receptions with three catches for 57 yards.

Defensively, senior defensive back Norman Massey led LIU with 10 tackles (9 solo, 1 assisted) and four tackles for loss, earning NEC Prime Performer recognition. Junior linebacker Elijah Casey followed with seven stops (5 solo, 2 assisted), while sophomore defensive back Jalen Bell recorded an interception and six solo tackles. Freshman defensive lineman Naquan Johnson added six tackles (4 solo, 2 assisted) and three TFLs.

LIU recorded 13 tackles for loss in the game and sacked Mercyhurst quarterback Adam Urena five times.

TEAM LEADERS: Redshirt junior running back O'Shawn Ross Jr. leads the Sharks in rushing through six games with 311 yards and one touchdown on 60 attempts. LIU's three quarterbacks, redshirt junior Luca Stanzani (155 yards, 3 TD /4 games), redshirt junior Ethan Greenwood (124 yards, 2 TD/3 games) and Howell (103 yds yards, 1 TD/6 games) follow Ross Jr.

Richardson leads the Sharks with 11 receptions for 168 yards in six games.