By Andrew Knoblauch
The University of New Hampshire collected its 500th win in program history as it defeated the Hofstra Pride 45-25 on Saturday. A milestone win for the then-#9 Wildcats, it was their seventh victory of this season. The Pride fall to 3-6 overall, 1-4 in CAA play. The bright spot for the Pride occurred by way of kickoff return yards from sophomore Aaron Weaver. He recorded 254 yards, which was a new school record. The previous record holder was Mark Cox who gained 253 yards against New Hampshire in 1991.
Behind center, freshman quarterback Steve Probst struggled finishing the contest 24 of 43 with 190 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions. The turnovers would prove costly as New Hampshire scored 21 points following a turnover. Everette Benjamin led the Pride on the ground with 73 yards on 16 rushes and also two touchdowns.
The Pride defense battled through the lopsided contest, holding the Wildcats to 278 yards, 3which is 154 yards below their season average. Luke Bonus and Chris Edmond hauled in six tackles.
For the Wildcats, tight end Scott Sicko and running back Robert Simpson each scored two touchdowns. Simpson recorded a career best 131 yards on 16 carries. Quarterback R.J. Toman completed 14 of 24 for 140 yards and also threw for two touchdowns.
Turnovers headlined the first half, and Hofstra benefitted from a fumble forced by linebacker Luke Bonus. Roger Williams would get the Pride on the board four plays later when he booted a 45-yard field goal just over two minutes into the contest.
After an exchange of interceptions each way, and a costly holding call that cost the Pride six points, Hofstra regained control only to have the ball taken away again. Probst threw his second interception of the contest, which was returned 47 yards for a touchdown. The quarter would end with the Pride trailing by four after having maintained possession for 10:18.
A failed fake field goal attempt by the Pride sparked the UNH offense as they journeyed 84 yards in three plays. The big play of the drive came when Toman threw a 51-yard pass to Mike Boyle. Toman later hit Sicko on the 11-yard touchdown. The Pride responded with their own long drive, compiling 75 yards on 13 plays. The drive was capped off with Probst finding Evertte Benjamin for the 10 yard touchdown pass.
A fumble by Kwabena Asante that was recovered by Brian McNally on the very next possession placed UNH on Hofstra’s 11-yard line. Toman hooked up with Sicko again for another 11-yard touchdown pass. The Pride went into the locker room down 21-9 at halftime.
The third quarter only saw three points that came from the foot of Tom Bishop, who booted in a 27-yard field goal.
Both offenses awoke again in the fourth quarter, combining for 37 points. An 88-yard interception by junior Ryan Hinds was the catalyst for Simpson’s three yard touchdown run to kick off the scoring in the fourth quarter. The Pride’s Aaron Weaver responded with a 48 yard kickoff return, and later in the quarter with a 65 yard kickoff return. Following the latter return, Benjamin punched in a touchdown on a one yard run. A successfully converted two point conversion put the Pride within two scores late in the contest.
The scoring was not done however, as a 64-yard drive by UNH ended with Simpson scoring on a 58-yard run. The Pride’s next possession ended the same way it had four times before, with an interception. Dino Vasso returned Probst’s throwing error for a 66-yard touchdown. The Pride concluded the scoring with an Everette Benjamin one yard touchdown.
The competition remains stiff for the Pride as they begin to close the 2008 campaign, they will face the eighth-ranked Richmond Spiders at James M. Shuart Stadium on Saturday.