Hofstra football ends frustrating season on positive note

The Hofstra football team will head into the off season with a positive taste in their mouths after a 52-38 win over Massachusetts today but will also be pondering a season of what ifs and what might have been. The 2009 season was a frustrating one for the Pride (5-6) that featured four losses by eight points or less, but the 599 yards of total offense on display in this afternoon’s year-ending triumph at Shuart Stadium shows plenty of promise for 2010.

“All the potential we have been talking about with the players that we have… it is good to see the whole thing click,” said Hofstra head coach Dave Cohen. “Just a phenomenal day for the offense, a phenomenal win.”

The season-ending win featured spectacular performances from several players who will be returning to Shuart Stadium in 2010 highlighted by junior wide receiver Aaron Weaver’s 15 receptions, which was just one short of the Hofstra record of 15 set in 2004 by Devale Ellis. Hofstra’s offense, which had struggled for much of 2009, went out with a bang scoring 50 points for the first time since a 55-0 romp of Stony Brook in 2005.

“It has been a frustrating season but I felt on the offensive side we always believed and we kept our faith in what we are capable of doing,” said senior quarterback Cory Christopher.

Hofstra dominated UMass in all facets in the first half putting up 353 yards of offense while holding the Minutemen to 138 for a 28-10 halftime lead. UMass launched a second half comeback and trailed only 45-38 with 6:53 left in the fourth quarter following a three-yard yard touchdown run from tailback Tony Nelson. The Pride then put the game away with a nine play 73 yard drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown run from freshman running back Miguel Maysonet with 1:41 left.

Today’s win sent 13 Pride seniors out winners including Christopher, who had a career day going 38-50 for 484 yards and three touchdowns passes. It was also the final Hofstra game for linebacker Luke Bonus, who went on to have a heralded college career after first making the Pride roster as a walk on in 2006. ”I couldn’t have asked for a better way to go out as a senior,” said Bonus. “I wouldn’t trade my career here for anything.”