Hempstead, NY- Maine recorded five interceptions and two fumble recoveries and Warren Smith threw for two touchdowns as Hofstra fell on Homecoming, 16-14, to the Black Bears in a CAA matchup at James M. Shuart Stadium Saturday afternoon. Maine improves to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play while the Pride had its record evened at 3-3 overall and 1-2 in CAA play.
Despite outgaining the Black Bears, 533-311, and picking up 32 first downs to Maine's 11, the Pride let their best offensive yardage production since 2005 against New Hampshire go by the wayside, thanks in large part to 10 Maine points off turnovers.
Pride freshman tailback Miguel Maysonet rushed for a career-high 95 yards on seven carries and sophomore quarterback Steve Probst chipped in another 91 yards on 12 rushes. Senior quarterback Cory Christopher completed 22 of 32 passes for 223 yard, one touchdown and three interceptions while Probst was two-for-eight for 17 yards with two interceptions. Three Pride receivers each recorded six catches with sophomore Christian Dennis picking up a career-high 80 yards, junior Anthony Nelson gaining 60 yards and classmate Aaron Weaver adding 53 yards and a touchdown. Weaver also went over the 100-reception mark in his Hofstra career.
The Black Bears were led by sophomore quarterback Warren Smith, who completed 15 of 25 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 16 times for 82 yards. Junior Tyrell Jones hauled in four passes for 86 yards while senior Landis William caught four passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore linebacker Donte Dennis picked off two of the five passes for the Black Bears.
Maine got on the scoreboard first, on its opening possession, driving 60 yards on six plays capped by a Warren Smith five yard touchdown pass to Julian McCall at the 12:17 mark of the first quarter. Jordan Waxman missed the extra-point for the 6-0 lead. On Hofstra's first possession, the Black Bears held the Pride to three-and-out. It would be Hofstra's only possession in the first half that didn't end in a turnover. The Pride's next five possessions in the first half and the first in the third quarter would all end in miscues with five interceptions and one fumble.
The Hofstra defense was able to keep Maine at bay until late in the second quarter when, after an interception, Smith directed a nine-play, 62-yard drive and found Landis Williams for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 1:17 to play in the half. Waxman's point-after gave the Black Bears a 13-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, after both Hofstra and Maine exchanged turnovers to end their initial drive, the Pride took over on their own 35 following a Maine fumble. Probst directed a seven-play, 65 yard drive that ended with Benjamin busting up the middle for a one-yard score. Greco's extra-point closed the gap to 13-7 with 8:18 to play in the third. Probst picked up 42 yards on the ground in the drive on four rushes.
While the Pride defense tightened, the offense racked up yardage with little to show. Hofstra mounted a 13-play, 70-yard drive at the end of the third and into the fourth quarter that ended with a missed Greco field goal nine seconds into the final stanza.
But Maine, which had two lost fumbles and one interception, had its next drive stopped by a Greg Melendez interception and return to the Hofstra 21-yard line. The Pride gave the ball back seven plays later near midfield when Jordan Stevens stripped the ball out of Probst's hands. Maine linebacker Donte Dennis fell on the loose ball at the Hofstra 46-yard line with nine minutes left in game. Maine took advantage of Hofstra's seventh turnover, going 11 plays before settling for Waxman's 28-yard field goal that boosted the lead to 16-7.
But the Pride came right back and marched 72 yards on 10 plays with Christopher hitting Aaron Weaver with a four-yard touchdown strike in the back of the end zone with 2:22 to play. Greco's point-after cut the gap to 16-14. Christopher was six-for nine for 50 yards in the drive and added a big 18-yard run.
With only one timeout remaining, Hofstra attempted an onside kick that Derek Buttles recovered. The Pride got a stop and had one last drive with 38 seconds left but saw its comeback hopes end when Christopher was sacked at the Maine 48-yard line on a fourth-and-four play to secure Maine's win.
The Pride defense was led by senior linebacker Luke Bonus with nine tackles and sophomore linebacker Greg Melendez added nine tackles and an interception. Dennis led the Black Bears defense with 10 tackles, including six solos, to go with his two interceptions and one fumble recovery.
Hofstra returns to action next Saturday, October 17 when they travel to Kingston, Rhode Island to face the Rams of Rhode Island at Mead Stadium. Game time is noon. The Black Bears of Maine will host top-ranked Richmond next Saturday.
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