FOOTBALL COMES UP SHORT AGAINST HOFSTRA SATURDAY
September 12, 2009
HOFSTRA DOWNS BRYANT 40-24 IN FOOTBALL SATURDAY
SMITHFIELD, R.I - Hofstra senior quarterback Cory Christopher
threw for 321 yards on 22 of 36 passing and three touchdowns as the
visiting Pride defeated Bryant University 40-24 on a rainy
afternoon at Bulldog Stadium and marking the 400th
career win in the Hofstra program.
Hofstra (2-0), which totaled 467 yards of total offense, never trailed in the game Saturday, but were able to hold off a late rally by the Bulldogs to pull out the victory heading into next week's game at Richmond.
Bryant (1-1) made it a one-score game as the Bulldogs cut the lead to seven (31-24) on a 57-yard touchdown pass by sophomore quarterback Mike Croce (Waterbury, CT) to receiver Khalel Pritchard (Boston, MA) down the right side early in the fourth quarter.
The Pride would respond quickly with a big play of their own as Christopher hooked up with receiver Christian Dennis on a 45-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to stretch its lead to 37-24. Henry Greco would later add a 24-yard field goal to round out the scoring.
In the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron, Hofstra wasted little time getting on the board as Dennis returned the opening kickoff 86 yards for the game's first score.
Bryant would answer with a Chris Bird (Monument Beach, MA) 34 yard field goal but Christopher would lead the Pride on a nine-play, 69-yard scoring drive capped off by a 31-yard touchdown pass to Everette Benjamin to make it 14-3.
It would be more Hofstra in the second as the Pride's offense looked sharp despite the wet field conditions. Miguel Maysonet scored from eight yards out while Greco connected on a 25-yard field to make it 24-3.
But the Bulldogs, playing in just their second season at the Division I (FCS) level, engineered a solid seven-play, 59-yard drive as Croce hit tight end Matt Tracey (Bow Mar, CO) on a roll out to make it 24-10.
Trailing 31-10 at the Bryant defense settled in. After failing to score on a fourth-and-goal from the Hofstra 5-yard line, Bryant forced the Pride to go three and out. However, Shane Casciano's punt from his end zone was blocked by Bryant's Nick Candito (West Boylston, MA) and the Bulldogs took over on the Hofstra 5-yard line.
Three plays later, running back Jerell Smith (Brooklyn, NY) scored from four yards out to make it 31-17.
Croce finished with 209 yards passing (14-for-38) and two touchdowns while Pritchard caught a career-high four catches for 85 yards for Bryant. Smith was held to 48 yards on 11 carries, however the senior did manage to go over the 2,000 yard rushing mark for his career. He's only the third running back in school history to reach 2,000 yards.
Hofstra finished with 146 yards rushing led by Kwabena Asante's 60 yards while Anthony Nelson caught six passes for 80 yards. Defensively, Luke Bonus led Hofstra with 11 tackles (9 solo) while Basim Hudeen had 10. Bryant's Michael Morgan (New London, CT) had 10 tackles to lead the Bulldogs defensively.
Bryant will be idle next week and return to action September 26 with a Northeast Conference game at Robert Morris. Hofstra returns to action next weekend when the Pride open CAA play at defending national champion Richmond.
POST GAME NOTES ...
* Jerell Smith went over the 2,000 yard mark on Bryant's first series on a 11-yard run to the Hofstra 18 yard line.
* The loss at home was Bryant's first since falling to Monmouth at home last September. Bryant is now 19-3 in regular-season games at home in the last four seasons.
* Bryant is now 5-8 all-time against Division I teams (FCS)
* Bryant honored the Gloria Gemma Foundation in support of Breast Cancer during the game. Both coaching staffs wore pink shirts while a cancer survivor was honored with the official coin toss at the start of the game.