Brian Harvey's extra-point following a 25-yard touchdown grab by Jared Turcotte in the second overtime gave the Black Bears of Maine a 41-40 victory over the Hofstra Pride in a CAA game at Alfond Stadium Saturday evening. The Pride, who tied the game in the fourth quarter and in the first overtime, fell to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Maine improved to 4-3 and 2-2 in the CAA.

The loss spoiled the Hofstra debut of freshman quarterback Steve Probst, who entered the game in the second quarter following an injury to starting junior Cory Christopher. Probst completed 14 of 20 passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the overtime periods. He also rushed 16 times for 63 yards. Senior receiver Ottis Lewis posted a career-best nine receptions for 77 yards and hauled in game-tying scores in the fourth quarter and in overtime. Sophomore Aaron Weaver tallied seven catches for 77 yards and one touchdown while sophomore running back Everette Benjamin had 47 yards on 11 carries and caught two passes for 14 yards and a touchdown.  The Pride defense was led by freshmen Chris Edmond and Greg Melendez with career-highs of 13 and 10 tackles, respectively.

Maine was led by quarterback Michal Brusko, who completed eight-of-11 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 19 times for 113 yards. Red-shirt freshman Jared Turcotte rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries and tallied five catches for 69 yards and a score while classmate Derek Session posted 67 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns and hauled in two passes for 46 yards and a touchdown. Senior linebacker Andrew Downey posted a game-high 19 tackles while senior end Jovan Belcher added 16 stops.

Regulation ended in dramatic fashion as the Pride recovered a Maine fumble on the Hofstra 2-yard line with 42 seconds to play and then killed the clock with the game tied at 27-27.   In the first overtime, Maine got the ball first and Session, after having a touchdown run called back earlier in the drive by a penalty, scored on a four-yard run. Harvey's extra-point was good. But Probst kept Hofstra alive in their OT possession with a key 14-yard run to the 12-yard line on a third down play. After the Pride picked up another  three-yards on a reverse to Aaron Weaver, Probst hit Ottis Lewis in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown. Roger Williams tied the game at 34-all with the extra-point.

In the second overtime Hofstra got the ball first and Probst directed a five-play drive and hit Everette Benjamin for a two-yard touchdown toss. But Williams' extra-point was missed wide left. Maine took advantage of the miss and on the first play Brusko found freshman Jared Turcotte on a crossing pattern for a 25-yard touchdown. Harvey's point-after gave the Black Bears the victory.

The Black Bears of Maine jumped out to a 13-0 lead after just 2:19 with a little help from the Pride. On Maine's first drive Brusko directed a 68-yard drive in four plays and capped the series with a 38-yard scoring pass to freshman Derek Session. Brian Harvey's point-after gave the Black Bears a 7-0 lead just 1:58 into contest.

After Hofstra sophomore Anthony Nelson returned the ensuing kickoff 29 yards to the Pride 48-yard line, Christopher was picked off on the first play from scrimmage by linebacker Sean Wasson, who returned the ball 49 yards to the Hofstra 2-yard line. Session then carried the ball the final two yards into the end zone. Harvey's point-after attempt was missed and Maine had a 13-0 lead with 12:41 to play in the first quarter.

But the Pride battled back and scored on their next three possessions to take a 17-13 lead. After the second Maine touchdown Christopher led the Pride on a 12-play, 60-yard drive and hit Aaron Weaver for an eight-yard touchdown pass. Christopher rushed six times for 27 yards and was four-for-four passing for 23 yards in the drive. Roger Williams' extra-point cut the Pride deficit to 13-7 with 7:36 to play in the first quarter.

After Session fumbled on a Greg Melendez hit with Chris Edmond recovering for Hofstra, the Pride took over on the Maine 46. Christopher used his arm to direct a 54-yard, eight-play drive with Jackolski rushing four-yards into the end zone for his sixth touchdown of the season.  Williams' extra-point gave the Pride a 14-13 lead with 1:49 to play in the opening stanza. Christopher was two-for-four for 35 yards in the drive including a 23-yard completion to Lewis.

Hofstra forced the Black Bears to turn the ball over on downs on their next possession, after a fake punt was sniffed out by Christian Dennis giving the Pride the ball on the Maine 4-yard line. Maine held the Pride offense, as the game moved into the second quarter, and Hofstra had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Williams just 42 seconds into the second period for a 17-13 lead.

While Hofstra was able to hold Maine the rest of the half both Christopher (7-11-1, 59, 1TD) and back-up running back Justine Buries (5-22-0) both went down with serious injuries during the ensuing possessions. Jackolski, who also would be hurt before halftime, took three snaps at quarterback before freshman Steve Probst came off the bench to replace Christopher.

The Pride boosted their lead to 20-13 just 3:17 into the second half on a 42-yard field goal by Williams. But Maine came back and posted two, quick-strike touchdowns  in the final four minutes of the period to take a 27-20 lead after three quarters. Brusko's 14-yard scoring run capped a four-play, 61-yard drive and Harvey tied it at 20-all with the extra-point with 3:19 to play. Then freshman Jared Turcotte broke away for a 71-yard scoring run with 34 seconds remaining in the third. Harvey's extra-point gave the Black Bears a 27-20 lead.
 
Hofstra tied the game early in the fourth quarter as Probst engineered a 10-play, 74-yard drive and hit Lewis on a 23-yard scoring pass with 11:09 to play in regulation. Lewis, running down the Maine sideline, came back and stepped in front of two defenders to grab the scoring pass. It was Lewis' first touchdown grab of the season and Probst's first TD pass of his career.

Maine mounted a long drive inside 3:00 remaining in regulation, getting inside field goal range at the Pride 24 yard line. But on the next play Brusko fumbled at the 6 yard line with Hofstra safety Ray McDonough recovering at the 2 with 42 seconds remaining. Hofstra was able to run out the clock and send the game to overtime.

The Pride will make their first appearance at James M. Shuart Stadium in more than a month next Saturday, October 25, when they face the Delawae Blue Hens at 3 p.m. in a CAA battle. The game will mark the inaugural Hofstra Football Strides Against Breast Cancer Day. EmblemHealth and Hofstra Athletics have teamed up to raise funds for the American Cancer Society (ACS) throughout October during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The first 1,000 fans on October 25 will receive pink rally towels courtesy of EmblemHealth and ACS.

In addition, Hofstra's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will help raise funds by selling pink Hofstra paper footballs throughout the month of October that will be posted around Shuart Stadium the day of the game.  SAAC will also assist selling specially designed Hofstra Pride t-shirts. One dollar per ticket of game day sales as well as 100% of the revenue generated from the sales of the paper footballs and the t-shirts will support the American Cancer Society.

To purchase football tickets online for the October 25 game visit www.Hofstra.edu/athletics or call 516-HOF-TIXX.

-30-