Tailback Arel Gordon rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown, and the Maine defense stymied the Pride offense as the 19th-ranked Black Bears of Maine downed Hofstra 21-10 in an Atlantic 10 Conference game at Alfond Stadium Saturday. Maine posted its third straight win to improve to 5-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play. The Pride dropped its third consecutive game and falls to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the A-10.
Gordon carried 20 times to post his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season. He also led the UM receivers with six receptions for 32 yards. Maine quarterback Ron Whitcomb completed 12 of 19 passes for 65 yards. The Pride, which was held to 106 yards on offense, including -9 rushing on 24 carries, were led by back-up quarterback Dennis Davis, who completed nine of 19 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. Starting senior quarterback Anton Clarkson, who was replaced in the second quarter, completed five of seven passes for 35 yards. Senior receiver Shaine Smith caught five passes for 49 yards. The Hofstra linebacker corps of Gian Villante (14 tackles), Chris Sebald (9) and Luke Bonus (9) accounted for 32 tackles in the contest.
The Black Bears of Maine, who came into the game looking to avenge a 44-0 loss at Hofstra in 2005, scored all their points in the first half. Midway through the first quarter, tailback Arel Gordon capped a nine-play, 67-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run up the middle. Devin McNeill's extra-point gave Maine a 7-0 lead with 6:47 to play in the quarter. Quarterback Ron Whitcomb boosted the Black Bears' lead four seconds into the second quarter with another 6-yard touchdown run up the middle to wrap up an eight-play, 45-yard drive. McNeill's extra-point gave Maine a 14-0 advantage.
Maine turned to some trickery on the ensuing kickoff, catching the Pride special teams off guard with an on-side kick that Lionel Nixon recovered for the Black Bears at the Hofstra 37. After Whitcomb directed the Black Bears to the Pride 5-yard line, Maine went to trickery again, converting a fake field goal attempt into a five yard touchdown run by holder Michael Brusko. McNeill's extra point boosted the Black Bears lead to 21-0 with 10:45 to play in the first half.
The Pride got on the board later in the period after cornerback Kyle Arrington picked off Whitcomb at the Hofstra 42-yard line. It was Arrington's first career interception. Junior quarterback Dennis Davis replaced starter Anton Clarkson and led the Pride on a 10-play, 58-yard drive capped by a seven-yard touchdown pass to Shaine Smith. It was Smith's sixth touchdown catch of the season. Rob Zarrilli's extra-point cut the deficit to 21-7 with 4:17 to play in the half.
Hofstra closed to 21-10 with 50 seconds remaining in the half when Zarrilli booted a career-best 52-yard field goal. The junior kicker from Orlando, Florida is now 14 of 16 in field goals attempts this season.
The second half was a battle of defenses as the Pride held Maine to just 106 yards but the Black Bears held the Pride to just 25 yards. Maine finished the game with 239 yards on offense.
Hofstra will conclude its three-game roadstand next Saturday, October 28 when they travel to Durham, New Hampshire to face the seventh-ranked Wildcats of New Hampshire at noon.
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