Hofstra junior quarterback Cory Christopher passed for 272 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't enough as Albany got a 7-yard touchdown run from junior tailback David McCarthy in the first overtime to earn a 22-16 victory over the Pride Saturday evening at James M. Shuart Stadium.

Hofstra slips to 0-2 with the loss, while Albany evens its record at 1-1 this season.

Christopher, a native of Miami, Florida, completed 27-of-38 passes, while also rushing for 44 yards. Linebacker Luke Bonus led Hofstra's defense with eight tackles and 1 ½ sacks.

Christopher tried to win it for the Pride in regulation, initiating an 18-play drive with the scored tied at 16. The junior passer produced a mini-highlight reel on the drive, faking a handoff before scrambling up-field for a key first down on an option play to push Hofstra past midfield.

Anthony Nelson, who logged a game-high nine catches for 85 yards, sustained the drive by sprawling out for a third-down catch, giving the Pride a new set of downs on the Albany 17. Christopher ran a quarterback keeper to center the ball between the hash marks, setting up freshman kicker Brian Hanly's potential game-winning attempt.

But Hanly had his 34-yard field goal attempt blocked by Dave Casale with three seconds remaining, sending the contest into overtime. Hanly had another chance in overtime, lining up for a 30-yard kick that would have forced the Great Danes to score a field goal to tie or a touchdown to win. Instead, Albany senior Raphael Nguti came up with the third block of the game for Albany. McCarty raced in for the winning score five plays later, marking just the third time the Great Danes have defeated Hofstra in 14 career meetings.

Down 16-9 early in the fourth quarter, the Pride stormed back. Christopher electrified the crowd of 5,111, eluding a sack about 10 yards in the backfield on third-and-long by juking away from linebacker Emerson Kinsey before firing a strike to Everette Benjamin for a first-down.

The drive nearly stalled near Albany's goal line as Christopher's third-down pass to Aaron Weaver sailed wide. Albany's Ross Bertrand was called for pass interference, setting up freshman tailback Brock Jackolski's first collegiate touchdown.

Jackolski took the pitch and ran untouched into the left corner of the end zone, tying the game at 16 with 10:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Albany quarterback Vinny Espositio (10-22, 102 yards) put the Great Danes ahead when the junior bullied his way into the end zone for a 1-yard quarterback keeper. The touchdown forged a 16-9 lead for the Great Danes with 2:12 left in the third quarter.

Nearly four minutes earlier, Albany generated points on defense to erase a 9-7 deficit. With the ball at the Hofstra 4-yard line, Christopher fumbled but recovered. Albany made the tackle in the Pride end zone for the game-tying safety.

Hofstra surged to a 6-0 lead thanks to nine-play, 59-yard drive that culminated with Christopher's 13-yard touchdown strike to Weaver.  The Pride missed the extra point, though Weaver's first career touchdown reception gave the home team the edge on its first possession.

Christopher's bullet pass was his first touchdown pass as a Hofstra player. But Albany rebounded late in the first quarter by marching 84 yards in 10 plays, pulling ahead thanks to the first of Esposito's two rushing touchdowns. The QB pushed past the goal line with a 1-yard keeper. Herb Glass added the extra point, putting Albany up 7-6 entering the second quarter.

Hofstra defensive end Al Carmody combined with Bonus on Hofstra's only other sack. Gregory Melendez chipped in seven tackles. Strong safety Ray McDonough contributed three pass breakups.

The Pride will look to rebound next Saturday when they host Rhode Island in the annual Homecoming contest.   Game time at Shuart Stadium is set for 1 p.m. To purchase football tickets online go to www.hofstra.edu/athletics or call 516-HOF-TIXX.

Games Notes: New Orleans Saints receiver and Pride alumnus Marques Colston had his number retired in a halftime ceremony. Colston was a three-year starter for the Pride and a four-year letterman who played at Hofstra from 2001-05.

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