Hofstra sophomore Everette Benjamin (Massapequa, NY) racked up a career-high 122 yards and a touchdown, keying an offensive onslaught as the Pride posted a 42-14 victory over Northeastern in a CAA matchup Saturday afternoon at James M. Shuart Stadium.

The Pride outgained the Huskies, 523-171, to snap a four-game losing streak in the last home game of the season. It was Hofstra's first 500-yard contest since the 2005 season. Freshman Brock Jackolski (Shirley, NY) added 91 yards on just nine carries, scoring two touchdowns as Hofstra improved to 4-7 and 2-5 against the conference. Northeastern lost for the sixth consecutive game, falling to 2-9 (1-6 CAA).

The Pride accumulated 342 rushing yards, marking the second team this season and complied more than 500 yards of total offense for the first time. Benjamin, who posted his previous career-high of 93 rushing yards on 20 carries last year against Northeastern, torched the Huskies again.

Benjamin averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 24 attempts, adding three catches for 30 yards out of the backfield. Receiver Aaron Weaver's two first-half touchdowns helped Hofstra surge to an early lead. Freshman quarterback Steve Probst (North Massapequa, NY) complemented the ground game, completing 16 of 22 passes for two touchdowns. Probst completed at least one pass to seven different receivers and also added 67 rushing yards.

On senior day, Mike Denimarck (Sound Beach, NY) recorded his first two catches of the season for 47 yards including a 27-yard reception. Senior Ray Bennett (Uniondale, NY) also got into the action, rushing for 10 yards and his first NCAA touchdown in front of his hometown fans.

Hofstra's defense held Huskies quarterback Anthony Orio to just 66 yards and forced two interceptions on 11-of-22 passes. The Pride scored three touchdowns off three Northeastern turnovers thanks to a defensive unit led by Luke Bonus' 10 tackles and one forced fumble.

Jackolski scored both of his touchdowns in the second half to pad the lead, notching 21-yard and 19-yard touchdown runs. Bennett's 2-yard touchdown run extended Hofstra's lead to 42-7 just 2:48 into the fourth quarter. Northeastern's John Sperrazza added a 2-yard touchdown run with 5:01 remaining in the game, capping the scoring.

At halftime, Hofstra honored former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman and Hofstra alumnus Dave Fiore, retiring his No. 74 during a ceremony. Before the festivities, the Pride ensured the announced crowd of 1,520 in attendance were in a good mood.

Probst methodically drove the Pride down the field in the first half, completing 14 of his 19 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns in building a 15-point halftime lead.

But things looked shaky for Hofstra initially. Darryl Jones recovered Probst's fumble, stalling the Pride's first drive at the Huskies 24-yard line. Yet Ray McDonough returned the favor the following possession, grabbing his third interception of the season off a pass intended for Tony Lott.

Hofstra took advantage of the miscue when Probst connected with Weaver for the first of his two touchdown receptions in the first half. Weaver caught Probst's bullet pass for the 2-yard scoring strike, putting the Pride up 7-0 with 7:54 remaining in the first quarter.

The Pride's defense stymied the Huskies in the opening half, forcing three punts and an interception on Northeastern's first four drives. Hofstra parlayed the stops into good field position, marching for another score near the end of the first quarter before four penalties backed the offense up.

Place-kicker Roger Williams (Mandeville, LA) ensured the home team walked away with points, drilling a record-tying 54-yard field goal to extend Hofstra's lead to 10-0 with 40 seconds left in the first. Williams' kick tied a school record set twice by Dave Ettinger, who hit a 54-yarder against SW Texas State in 1996 and another kick of the same against Lafayette in 1995.

Northeastern's only score in the opening 30 minutes came off a turnover.  David Akinniyi forced Probst to fumble with Michael Laperriere recovering. Four plays later, Alex Broomfield capitalized with a three-yard touchdown run 4:09 into the second quarter, cutting Hofstra's lead to 10-7.

The "Wildcat" offensive formation helped Hofstra recapture the momentum. Jackolski picked up 10 yards on third-and-two off a reverse pitch. Benjamin's 25-yard touchdown one play later extended the Pride's lead to 16-7 with just 2:11 left in the first-half.

Driving rain bombarded the field moments after the kick. The weather conditions failed to hinder the Pride defense. Deron Mayo tipped an Orio pass at the line and intercepted it, giving the Pride the ball back just 35 seconds later.

Weaver hooked up with Probst for the second time. Facing one-on-one coverage, Weaver gained position over Steven Sesay, hauling in a fade pass in the left corner of the end zone with seven seconds left on the clock. The Pride couldn't convert the two-point conversion but still went into halftime with a 22-7 edge.

Hofstra will close out the 2008 campaign next week when it goes on the road to face the Minutemen of the University of Massachusetts at 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised live in the metropolitan area on the YES Network.

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