By Bob Bonett and Brian Bohl
Hofstra’s football team has encountered a fair share of surprise turnarounds that have led to their unexpected undefeated start.
Quarterback Bryan Savage has become as an archetypal leader emerging from a battle for a starting job.
Running back Kareem Huggins has broken out, turning into perhaps the best all around player in the CAA after a quite 2006.
Wide receiver Charles Sullivan has even drawn comparisons to Marques Colston and Shaine Smith with his CAA-leading receiving numbers, turning in performances nobody expected.
Yes, the resurgence of a Pride offensive attack has certainly grabbed the headlines and been most noteworthy for the 2007 season. However, behind the offensive success is a defensive unit that continues to thwart every opponent week in and week out.
Led by a cast of hard hitting linebackers including Gian Villante-the CAA Defensive Player of the Week-speedy safeties and a big, punishing defensive line, for the second consecutive year, the Pride defense is emerging as the best in the CAA.
Saturday’s win over conference rival Towson was no different.
Taking on reigning CAA Player of the Week, Towson quarterback Sean Schaefer, the task at hand was clear; limit Schaefer and Hofstra would remain undefeated, but get beat by Schaefer, and the team was looking at their first loss of their surprise season
Just 123 passing yards and three points later, Dave Cohen’s defense once again, stepped up in a way nobody imagined, living up to their status as the best unit in the conference.
“We’ve got some warriors,” Cohen said. “I’m so proud of how hard they execute in all three phases. That’s just a product of working as hard as you can.”
It appears, unlike last season, the hard work is paying off. In 2006, though the team managed only two wins, the defense still emerged as one of the best in the conference. The team allowed just 22 points to Massachusetts, 10 points to New Hampshire, 21 points to Maine and 10 points to Delaware.
A year later and the theme resoundingly remains the same for the unit; any team that takes on Hofstra will have a difficult time going anywhere on offense.
“I think it helps us a lot,” Savage said regarding the defensive presence. “It gives us momentum. It’s great to see that. It’s a big momentum builder for us.”
Entering the game, the Pride secondary ranked at the top of the CAA in pass-defense efficiency. After limiting arguably one of the top-three quarterbacks in the conference to less than 125 yards, it appears that the statistic is not at all misleading.
Next up for the Pride will be the team ranked one spot below them nationally: New Hampshire. An early favorite for CAA Player of the Year, UNH quarterback Ricky Santos has been banged up lately, but will most likely get the start Saturday, as he looks to lead his team to a win over the contending Pride.
Again, it will be the job of the defense to limit a big play maker, keeping the team in contention to take home what will be their seventh consecutive victory. And if the past few weeks are indication, this unit is definitely up to the challenge.

Gian Villante has led Hofstra’s defense to turn into one of the most feared units in the CAA after allowing just three points to Towson. (Sean M. Gates)