Click here for Greater Long Island newsletters. Click here to download the iPhone app.
He could… go… all… the… way.
ESPN’s Chris Berman would have had to reverberate his famous line at least three times for Stony Brook if he was commentating on the Seawolves’ 2018 home-opening 50-21 win over Bryant University (1-1).
The first of those highlight-reel plays came after quarterback Joe Carbone scored a pair of rushing touchdowns within the first 14 minutes of the game to go up 13-0 (the second extra point was blocked.)
The Bulldogs were putting together a methodical drive in the second quarter until Stony Brook linebacker EJ Fineran intercepted a pass and returned it for a 79-yard touchdown.
“[LB Shayne Lawless] tipped it and I was just at the right place at the right time,” said the redshirt sophomore, “I said, ‘I got to take it to the house.'”
E.J. Fineran steals one and takes it 79 yards to the house!#SeawolvesUnited | #HOWL | #CAAFB pic.twitter.com/57sKA6CaY1
— Stony Brook Football (@StonyBrookFB) September 8, 2018
The other two big plays included a blocked punt that was returned for a 12-yard touchdown to go up 34-21; and a 95-yard interception return as time expired in the game.
The exciting win comes after the Seawolves suffered a 38-0 loss to Air Force in the season opener.
“It was awesome to get a win under our belts,” said head coach Chuck Priore. “I thought we came out really excited to play, specifically offensively.”
That offense was headed by the team’s captain, Carbone, whose rushing touchdowns were the first he scored since the 2016-17 season.
“We came in on Sunday (after the Air Force loss) and wanted to turn the page,” said Carbone. “We said we never want to feel that feeling ever again.”
However, the game looked like it was going in that direction when Bryant scored 21 unanswered points to briefly take a 21-20 lead in the third quarter.
With 6:32 left in the third, Carbone recollected the offense and drove down the field with the help of a running back tandem, Jordan Gowins and Donald Liotine, who both rushed for over 100 yards each in the game.
On Bryant’s 24 yard line, Liotine caught a pass in the flats, broke a tackle and scored the go-ahead touchdown.
“It was a gotcha play,” Liotine described the down, which began with a play-action mixed direction. “We brought in a little diversion and went the other way with it.”
On the defensive side, Lawless, the linebacker, had a strong outing — accumulating 17 total tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss during the game.
Overall, Priore was happy with his team’s performance, especially across all three units. But, he says, there is work still to be done, especially on the discipline end.
“This is a group I really enjoy coaching,” said Priore, who is in his 13th season coaching Stony Brook. “But 13 penalties aren’t going to win you many football games.”
“We need to get better, but it was a good starting point,” he said.
side story of game
Bryant senior running back Brenden Femiano, a Northport native, rushed for his first-ever 100-yard game. The Long Islander had 19 carries for 113 yards.
next up
Stony Brook’s next game will be another non-conference matchup on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Fordham (0-2) at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on LI News Radio 103.9 FM.
The Seawolves’ first conference game is home against Richmond (1-1) on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m.
Top: Stony Brook QB Joe Carbone taking it in for a score himself during the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 9. (Credit: Jim Harrison of Stony Brook Athletics)
