BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Sept. 2, 2017) - On Saturday, the No. 14 LIU Post football team opened up the 2017 campaign with a 42-13 rout of Virginia Union University in a non-conference tilt at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium in Brookville.

Trailing 7-0 after one quarter of play, the Pioneers (1-0) went on to tally 28 unanswered points to cruise to a season-opening victory against the Panthers (0-1).

At the start of the second quarter, it took the green and gold just 1:02 to even the score. Senior quarterback Yianni Gavalas (Manhasset, N.Y.) hooked up with red-shirt junior running back Malik Pierre (Holbrook, N.Y.) for a game-tying 51-yard touchdown.

Following a subsequent three-and-out that saw Virginia Union net a total of -1 yards, LIU Post went back on the offensive again. This time, the Pioneers strung together a six-play, 32-yard drive that resulted in a Pierre two-yard touchdown run to give the hosts a 14-7 lead.

The green and gold weren't done there. On the ensuing series, Gavalas finished off a quick five-play, 48-yard drive with a 23-yard touchdown strike to senior wide receiver Michael Richardson (West Babylon, N.Y.), making it a 21-7 game.

In the third quarter, the Pioneers forced an early turnover and capitalized on it to increase their lead. After red-shirt senior defensive lineman Anthony DeNunzio (Seaford, N.Y.) got a strip sack to give the ball back to LIU Post in plus-territory, Richardson found red-shirt junior wideout Amir Crenshaw (Bronx, N.Y.) for a 30-yard touchdown on the next play to give the hosts a commanding 28-7 advantage.

The green and gold never looked back from there, as Gavalas threw a pair of second-half touchdown passes to secure the victory in his Pioneer debut.

Gavalas finished 15-of-22 passing for 273 yards and four touchdowns. Richardson hauled in five passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Pierre rushed eight times for 39 yards and a score.

On defense, senior defensive back Richard Wright (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led all players with 10 tackles (eight solo, two assist). Junior linebacker Connor Farrell (Holtsville, N.Y.) contributed eight tackles (two solo, six assist) in the effort. DeNunzio recorded seven tackles (four solo, three assist), including three sacks, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

Head Coach Bryan Collins and his LIU Post squad return to action next Saturday (Sept. 9), when they face University of New Haven in their 2017 Northeast-10 Conference opener in West Haven, Conn. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.