Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra Pride Football team will kick off their 2009 season this Saturday, September 5 when they host the Seawolves of Stony Brook University at James M. Shuart Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.
The Pride, under the direction of Head Coach Dave Cohen, who is entering his fourth season at Hofstra, will be meeting the Seawolves for the 13th time. The Pride has never lost to their opponents from Suffolk County. The two teams last met on September 27, 2008 at LaValle Stadium in Stony Brook with the Pride posting a 43-3 victory. In that game Hofstra's defense generated four turnovers, leading to 26 points as the Pride rolled to victory. The Hofstra defense held Stony Brook to just 211 yards on offense, recorded interceptions by Chris Edmond and Ray McDonough, and a forced fumble/fumble recovery return for a 60-yard touchdown by Leslie Jackman. The Pride forced stops on the Seawolves first five drives, surging ahead 31-3 at halftime. Hofstra junior quarterback Cory Christopher wasn't deterred by the evening's soggy weather, finishing 15-for-24 for 161 yards and a touchdown, while adding 48 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns.
In 2007 at Shuart Stadium, the Seawolves battled the Pride in one of the closest games in the series, rallying late from a 12-point deficit before falling, 33-28. Five of the 12 games in the series have been decided by single-digits with three of those contests coming when both programs were Division III members in the 1980s.
Hofstra, with 40 lettermen and 20 starters returning from last year's injury-riddled squad, will be looking to rebound from a 4-8 season. In stark contrast to last season where many first-time starters saw action, the 2009 Pride has just three players penciled in on Saturday night's depth chart, who are expected to make their first start in a Hofstra uniform. Junior tight end Jose Cruz (Johnstown, PA), who transferred to Hofstra last winter from the University of Akron, impressed the Pride staff during spring drills and will make his Long Island debut against the Seawolves. Junior cornerback Garrett Heron (South Orange, NJ), who played in all 11 games on special teams and as a reserve defensive back as a red-shirt freshman in 2007, sat out last season with an injury. He is the son of Rupert "Red" Heron, who played for Hofstra in 1987. The third Pride player expected to make his starting debut in a Hofstra uniform is red-shirt freshman, defensive tackle Johnny Hartsfield. The St. Petersburg, Florida native added more than 20 pounds to his 6'3 frame and impressed the coaching staff with his tenacity during the spring and preseason drills.
But it will be the experience and leadership of key returnees like senior co-captains, linebacker Luke Bonus (Medford, NJ) and quarterback Cory Christopher (Miami, FL), that will carry the team in 2009. Bonus, an All-CAA first team selection in 2008, has led the team in tackles in two of his three seasons. The 2008 Iron Mike Award winner as Hofstra Football's Most Valuable Player, Bonus was also the 2006 Atlantic 10 Defensive Rookie of the Year and has been a three-time academic all-conference team selection.
Christopher was one of those newcomers last year who was forced into action due to injury. The Nassau Community College-transfer received the starting job just minutes before kickoff of the 2008 season opener at Connecticut when Bryan Savage was sidelined with a back injury. Christopher completed 127 of 190 passes (66.8%) for 1,163 yards in seven games before he too, suffered a season-ending injury. One of his main targets will be junior receiver Aaron Weaver (Freeport, NY), an All-CAA second team selection a year ago. The multi-purpose Weaver hauled in 70 passes for 595 yards and four touchdowns. He also led the Pride in kickoff return average with a 26.5 average in 21 returns.
The Seawolves, under head coach Chuck Priore, who is also in his fourth year at Stony Brook, are coming off a 5-6 season in 2008 and, like the Pride, have many veterans and starters returning in 2009. Stony Brook, which has 40 lettermen returning including 15 starters, are led by the running back tandem of sophomore Ed Gowins (1,310 yards, 11 TDs) and senior Conte Cuttino (1,195 yards, 7 TDs). The Seawolves' defense is anchored by senior linebacker Tyler Santucci and junior linebacker Stephen Schwicke, who, in 2008, tallied 79 and 60 tackles, respectively.
Hofstra season ticket packages, as well as individual game tickets, are on sale now by calling the Hofstra Athletic Ticket Office at 516-HOF -TIXX (463-8499). Single game tickets can also be purchased via phone or online at www.GoHofstra.com.
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