By LeMont Joyner
After being pummeled 56-0 last week the Hofstra Pride responded by posting their highest point production all season. They defeated Bucknell University 45-31.
The game began with the Pride receiving their first break after Bison quarterback Marcello Trigg (11/16, 119 yds, 1 TD, 1 int) threw an interception right into the hands of Hofstra Senior cornerback and Draddy Trophy Nominee Nick Altomare on the Bison’s first drive. With that pick Altomare recorded his third interception of the year.
The Pride used this momentum and on their fourth play from scrimmage freshman running back Brock Jackolski (9 car, 170 yds, 3 TD) ran up the middle for a 78 yard touchdown, his first of three on the day. “We were getting off the ball a lot faster than they were,” Jackolski said in a post game interview, “We had more power.”
Hofstra did have more power indeed as the two teams traded touchdown blows throughout the entire game.
After Jackolski’s long touchdown run the Bison responded with a touchdown drive of their own capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass by Trigg to running back Ryan Smith. After Bucknell’s score the Pride regained the lead on their next possession and never looked back.
Following Jackolski’s second touchdown run of 31-yards the score was 14-7 late in the first quarter. But by halftime Hofstra was leading 31-14.
However, Bucknell was able to make it a close game again by scoring 10 unanswered points in the second half to bring the score to 31-24.
But Hofstra responded with two touchdown scores in the fourth quarter by quarterback Corey Christopher (15/22, 148 yds, 1 TD, 1 int, 12 car, 54 yds, 2 TD). The first being a two yard scamper by the mobile quarterback, and the second a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Phil Riley (2 rec, 12 yds, 1 td). “We have a good group of backs, Brock (Jackolski) included, and we’re more physical right now in our offensive line than we are athletic, so we’ve had more success with run blocking,” said Coach Cohen.
By this point the score was 45-24 and Bucknell was simply out of time.
They did manage to tack on a meaningless touchdown with a minute left in the game on an Andrew Lair quarterback keeper.
Lair came into the game after a Trigg injury and was able to continue to move the ball for the Bison.
With this win the Pride move to 3-3 on the season and 1-1 in the division. Winning this game should provide excellent momentum as Hofstra takes on University of Maine this week.