BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Redshirt junior running back O'Shawn Ross, Jr. rushed for a game-high 110 yards and a touchdown on 23 attempts as the Long Island University football team (2-5, 1-2 NEC) defeated Robert Morris University (1-6, 0-2 NEC), 17-7, on Saturday afternoon at Shark Stadium.

Returning from injury, redshirt junior quarterback Luca Stanzani also turned in a strong performance, completing 15 of 26 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown, while gaining 38 yards on seven attempts on the ground.

All told, LIU ran the ball 43 times, outgaining Robert Morris 197-47 in rushing yards for the game.

Following a scoreless first quarter, LIU opened the scoring early in the second quarter as Ross, who also had team-high six receptions for 26 yards, capped off an 11-play, 66-yard scoring drive with a six-yard touchdown run to give the Sharks a 7-0 lead.

LIU extended its lead right before halftime as redshirt junior defensive back Trey Watkins intercepted a Zach Tanner pass to give the Sharks the ball at the Robert Morris 15-yard line.

Four plays later, Stanzani connected with redshirt senior tight end Jaiden Dozier on a five-yard scoring pass to give LIU a 14-0 lead at halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, Robert Morris reduced LIU's advantage to 14-7 when Zach Tanner completed a 66-yard touchdown pass to running back Ethan Shine with 11:25 remaining in the contest.

On the ensuing drive, the LIU offense took 5:44 off the game clock before senior punter Will Lynch pinned the Colonials on their own one-yard line with a 44-yard punt.

Lynch, a preseason All-NEC selection who was named special teams co-player of the week for his performance Week 1 at Florida, averaged 42 yards on four punts with a long of 56-yards on Saturday. The Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia native's other three punts pinned the Colonials inside the 20-yard line.

Following a three and out by the Sharks defense, LIU iced the game when senior kicker Will Johnson nailed a clutch 42-yard field goal to extend the hosts lead to 17-7 with 1:03 remaining. Johnson's kick capped an eight-play drive that consumed 3:11 of game time.

Defensively, sophomore defensive back Jalen Bell led the way for LIU with nine tackles (5 solo, 4 assisted). Bell also had two of LIU's five tackles for loss in the game.

Senior defensive back Norman Massey and sophomore defensive tackle Scoop Gardner, Jr. each had one sack for the Sharks which limited Robert Morris to just seven first downs in the game.

LIU dominated time of possession, 38:10-21:50, and in total outgained Robert Morris, 300-224.

Up next, LIU will host the University of New Haven next Saturday. Kickoff for Breast Cancer Awareness Day at Shark Stadium is slated for 12 p.m.
The game can be seen digitally on NEC Front Row and heard on the LIU Sharks Audio Network via the Varsity Network App beginning at 11:30 a.m.