Hempstead, NY (Aug. 29) - Senior quarterback John Edwards threw for 147 yards and a touchdown and ran for two other touchdowns as the top-ranked and defending I-AA national champion Montana Football team defeated 13th-ranked Hofstra 21-0 on Thursday evening at the newly-dedicated James M. Shuart Stadium.
The loss marked the first time the Pride has been shut out since a 41-0 loss to LIU-C.W. Post in 1978, a span of 255 games. It was also Hofstra's first season-opening loss since 1983, ending a streak of 19 straight wins. The win was Montana's 15th in a row overall and its 21st in a row against non-Division I-A teams. The last loss the Grizzlies have suffered against a I-AA opponent was a 10-9 defeat to Hofstra in the 2000 season opener.
Montana led 7-0 at halftime and took advantage of a pair of key Hofstra turnovers to extend its lead to 14-0 midway through the third quarter. An interception by cornerback Vernon Smith ended Hofstra's first second-half drive at the Grizzlies' 35-yard line with 12:46 left in the third quarter. Two possessions later, the Pride defense held at the Hofstra 44-yard line, but junior punt returner Jamaal Perry fumbled the ensuing punt, giving Montana the ball back at the nine-yard line. Edwards threw an eight-yard pass to wide receiver Jon Talmage to put the ball on the goal line, and then sneaked into the end zone on the ensuing play for his first scoring run of the day with 5:12 left in the third quarter.
After the Grizzlies' defense held Hofstra to three-and-out, Edwards then added an insurance touchdown with a seven-yard bootleg with 1:54 left in the third quarter, capping off a six-play, 45-yard drive to make the score 21-0.
Hofstra's final chance to avoid its first shutout in 24 years came in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, as the Pride drove all the way to the Grizzlies' 14-yard line. However, Pride quarterback Cosentino failed to connect with wide receiver Isaac Irby on third and fourth down, giving the ball back to Montana.
The only score of the first half came on an eight-yard scoring strike from Edwards to wide receiver Rory Zikmund with 9:03 left in the second quarter, capping off a 13-play, 82-yard drive. Edwards kept the drive going with a five-yard run on fourth-and-three from the Pride 20-yard line, just eluding the grasp of Hofstra linebacker Renauld Williams. Edwards then picked up a key third-down conversion when he eluded a Hofstra blitz and carried for a 14-yard run up the left sideline on third-and-11. After running back David Gober lost a yard on first-and-goal, Edwards threw a timing pass in the left side of the end zone to Zikmund, who made a leaping catch over his left shoulder.
Hofstra had three first-half drives stall inside the Montana 35-yard line, getting as far as the 28 midway through the second quarter, before a five-yard ineligible receiver downfield penalty and a three-yard sack by free safety Trey Young forced the Pride to punt.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, missed out on a golden scoring opportunity in the first quarter when an 18-yard run from Gober and a 14-yard run from J.R. Waller gave Montana a first-and-goal at the Hofstra six-yard line. Renauld Williams came up with a big defensive stop on third down when he tackled Edwards for a three-yard loss on a quarterback draw, and kicker Chris Snyder missed wide left on a 26-yard field goal attempt.
Cosentino, who was making his second career start and his first since the 2000 season, finished the game 20-for-45 passing for 217 yards and an interception. Trevor Dimmie led Hofstra on the ground with 57 yards on 17 carries, while Irby was the top receiver with seven catches for 74 yards. Gober carried for 104 yards on 17 carries for the Grizzlies, including 79 yards on 10 carries in the first half. Strong safety Dave DeCoite had 11 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries to lead the Montana defense. Williams led the Hofstra defensive unit with nine tackles, three of which were for losses, while free safety Carlton Bargman had six tackles and two sacks.
For the game, Montana held a narrow edge in total yardage, 317-277, but did not turn the ball over for the entire contest, while Hofstra gave the ball away four times. The Grizzlies also had a commanding edge in time of possession, controlling the ball for 38:14, compared to 21:46 for the Pride.
Hofstra will next be in action when it plays its 2002 Atlantic 10 Conference opener against Rhode Island at Shuart Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.
Game Stats
