HOFSTRA BEATS JMU 24-17 IN CAA FOOTBALL

Saturday, October 3

Hempstead, N.Y.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

2-2 , 0-1

Hofstra

3-2 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

Hofstra

10/3/2009 11:15:00 PM | Football

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Oct. 3, 2009 - Quarterback Cory Christopher threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and Dave Wilson caught two touchdown passes as Hofstra defeated James Madison 24-17 in Colonial Athletic Association football Saturday.

Hofstra led 21-10 at halftime and limited JMU to 192 yards of total offense while improving to 3-2 overall and to 1-1 in the CAA.

JMU fell to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the CAA.

The game was delayed because of lightning for 47 minutes at 4:07 p.m. with 1:23 left in the first half.

Christopher scored on 17-yard run to give Hofstra a 7-0 first-quarter lead and hit Wilson on a four-yard touchdown pass five seconds before halftime for the Pride's 21-10 advantage at the break.

Wilson's other score came on a 34-yard pass from Steve Probst for a 14-3 Hofstra lead early during the second quarter.

The Pride, after leading by 11 points at halftime, didn't score again Henry Greco kicked a 42-yard field goal with 2:14 left in the game, but JMU managed only one second-half score.

The Dukes compiled only 77 yards of total offense during the final half but still had a final possession with a chance to at least tie the game. They started from their 28 after Greco's field goal and advanced to the Hofstra 24 when senior wide receiver Rockeed McCarter (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) pulled in a 35-yard pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Thorpe (Richmond, Va./Varina) with just more than a minute left on the clock.

However, on first down from the 24, JMU lost 20 yards on a bad snap from center on the following play, threw an incompletion on second down and had an offensive pass interference penalty nullify what would have been a 27-yard completion to the Pride 17 from junior quarterback Drew Dudzik (Clifton, Va./Centreville) to McCarter.

The Dukes got a 22-yard completion from Dudzik to McCarter on third down (recovering their own fumble on a hook-and-lateral play) but then threw an incompletion on fourth down.

Hofstra finished with 287 yards of total offense (154 rushing, 133 passing) while JMU ran for 136 yards and threw for 56.

Hofstra had 17 first downs to JMU's 11, didn't have a turnover and was penalized only once for 10 yards. JMU threw an interception and lost a fumble and was penalized twice for 20 yards.

The Pride was successful on four of five fourth-down conversion attempts.

Hofstra took a 7-0 lead on its second series, driving 79 yards in 10 plays with Christopher running the final 17 yards for the touchdown. Christopher scrambled nine yards for a first down on a third-and-seven from the Hofstra 24, and the Pride got a 22-yard carry from Everette Benjamin on fourth-and one from its 42.

JMU cut the lead to 7-3 on the following series when sophomore placekicker Dixon Wright (Crossnore, N.C./Avery County) kicked a 23-yard field goal. Senior cornerback Scotty McGee (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) returned the kickoff 54 yards to the Hofstra 33, and the Dukes got two first downs and advanced as far as the Hofstra four before being stopped.

Hofstra raised the lead to 14-3 three series later, scoring on Probst's 34-yard pass to Wilson with 10:34 left in the second quarter. The Pride scored in three plays after taking possession at the JMU 48 following a punt.

JMU pulled to within 14-10 two plays later when Thrope scored on a 37-yard run. JMU got a 30-yard kickoff return from sophomore tailback Scott Noble (Baltimore, Md./Franklin) to the Hofstra 45, and Noble ran for eight yards on the play before Thorpe scored.

Hofstra increased its lead to 21-10 on the weather-delayed possession. The Pride recovered a JMU fumble 34 and used 15 plays to move 66 yards with Christopher capping the series with his four-yard touchdown pass to Wilson.

JMU got to within 21-17 on the initial series of the second half, driving 57 yards in 12 plays with Noble scoring from the one with 7:09 left in the third quarter. Thorpe ran five times for 49 yards during the drive, including a 29-yard scramble on third-and 12 from the JMU 41.

JMU didn't get a first down on any of its next three series before taking possession for the final time with just more than two minutes to play.

JMU returns home next Saturday (Oct. 10) to host Richmond in its Family Weekend game. The game will begin at noon and will be televised Comcast SportsNet.

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