Junior Jabbie rushed for a game-high 155 yards and a touchdown, leading Delaware to a 17-0 CAA victory over the Hofstra Pride at rainy and windswept James M. Shuart Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Hofstra tailback Everette Benjamin led the Pride, running for 71 yards on 13 carries while freshman quarterback Steve Probst made his first start for the Pride, completing 11 of 28 passes for 71 yards in 20 mph winds. The Pride, who were without offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude due to a family emergency, posted their second-lowest offensive total of the year with 179 yards, just nine yards more than in the season opener at Connecticut. Hofstra dropped its third straight conference game, falling to 3-5 on the season and 1-3 in the CAA.
Delaware utilized a unique quarterback tandem to improve to record its first conference win this season. Tight end Robbie Agone and wide receiver Aaron Love split the passing duties, combining for 8-of-11 passing and 77 yards as the Blue Hens improved to 3-5 overall and 1-3 in the CAA. Delaware tallied 257 yards on offense in the contest.
Agone, who finished with 39 passing yards, also added a 1-yard quarterback keeper for Delaware's final touchdown with 8:01 left. Jabbie rushed 31 times, including a first-quarter touchdown run that proved to be the game-winning score.
Freshman Chris Edmond made a big special teams play for the Pride after recovering a fumble earlier in the game. The local product, who also recorded a sack, pressured a Delaware punt, leading to a turnover at the Blue Hens 10-yard line with 44 seconds left. Hofstra could not take advantage, going four-and-out. Delaware surged to a 10-0 halftime lead, working almost exclusively from the shotgun on offense. Jabbie capitalized on a slew of draw plays, rushing for 96 yards on 17 carries in the first half.
The Blue Hens took advantage of great field position after the wind held up a Hofstra punt late in the first quarter, giving Delaware possession at the Hofstra 12-yard line. Two plays later, Jabbie plowed through the line for a 4-yard touchdown run, putting the visitors up 7-0 with 6:19 remaining in the quarter.
Hofstra's defense clamped down on another promising Delaware drive late in the second quarter, setting up a fourth-and-one at the Pride 12-yard line. The Blue Hens kept the offense on the field before a false start penalty forced Delaware to settle for three points. Jon Striefsky's 27-yard field goal extended the lead to 10-0 with 5:12 left in the half, capping a 12-play drive.
Probst attempted to ignite a second half-comeback, leading the Pride downfield midway through the third quarter before Delaware forced a fourth-and-three at the 15-yard line. Hofstra elected to go for it, but Brandon Gilbeaux stopped Probst on a quarterback keeper just short of the first-down marker with 6:26 left in the period. Hofstra held the ball for 13:43 in the third quarter but couldn't put any points on the board.
Delaware rounded out the scoring early in the fourth after a high snap on a Hofstra punt attempt gave the Blue Hens possession just inches from the Pride goal line. Two plays later, Agnone bullied his way into the end zone for a three-score lead with 8:01 remaining.
The Pride's defense did its best to minimize the damage in the soggy conditions, forcing five punts while also generating a first-half turnover. Down just 7-0 with 12 minutes left in the second quarter, defensive back Ray McDonough's big hit on Phillip Thaxton forced a fumble. Edmond recovered at the Hofstra 26, ending a Blue Hens drive.
Luke Bonus registered a game-high 14 tackles and fellow linebacker Said Gaida contributed 11 tackles. Edmond and Kevin Smith also were credited with sacks.
The Pride, who were making their first home appearance since September 20, return to the road next Saturday, November 1 when they travel to Durham, New Hampshire to face the 10th-ranked Wildcats of New Hampshire at noon.
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